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"Comer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to eat", and "pedir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ask for". Learn more about the difference between "comer" and "pedir" below.
comer(
koh
-
mehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to have for lunch
Tengo ganas de comer un sándwich de rosbif.I feel like having a roast beef sandwich for lunch.
3. (to eat for dinner) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have for dinner
Vamos a comer espagueti con albóndigas.We're going to have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
a. to hide
Ese sombrero te queda demasiado grande. ¡Te come la cara entera!That hat is too big for you. It hides your entire face!
b. to swallow up
Siento que estas gafas de sol me comen la cara.I feel like these sunglasses swallow up my face.
5. (to consume)
a. to eat up
El pago de la hipoteca de la casa me come la mayoría del sueldo.The mortgage payment on my house eats up most of my paycheck.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to eat
No quiero comer ahora mismo; no tengo hambre.I don't feel like eating right now. I'm not hungry.
a. to have lunch
Comieron rápido porque tenían una reunión a la 1 pm.They had lunch quickly because they had a meeting at 1 pm.
9. (to have a meal in the evening) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to have dinner
Comimos en un restaurante mexicano nuevo.We had dinner at a new Mexican restaurant.
comerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
10. (to ingest food)
11. (to wear away)
12. (to use up)
a. to eat up
¡Los impuestos se me comen la mayor parte de mi sueldo!Much of my pay is eaten up by taxes!
b. to blow through
Iván se comió el premio que ganó en la lotería en pocos meses.Ivan blew through his lottery winnings in a few months.
13. (to chew on)
a. to bite
Le pusieron un ungüento para que no siguiera comiéndose las uñas.They put an ointment on his nails so that he wouldn't bite them.
14. (to omit)
b. to swallow
Se comió las palabras cuando estaba hablando con su enamorada.He swallowed his words when he was talking to his crush.
b. to crash into
Nos comimos la puerta del garaje cuando dimos marcha atrás.We crashed into the garage door when we reversed.
pedir(
peh
-
deer
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to solicit)
b. to ask
No necesitas pedir permiso para ir al baño.You don't have to ask permission to go to the bathroom.
c. to request
Si tienes más de 1,000 puntos, puedes pedir un regalo.If you have more than 1,000 points, you can request a gift.
a. to beg
Había muchos indigentes pidiendo dinero en el metro.There were lots of homeless people begging for money in the metro.
4. (commerce)
b. to ask for (a price)
Están pidiendo $300 por taquilla para el concierto.They're asking $300 per ticket for the concert.
5. (to command)
b. to request
Los clientes pueden pedir en todo momento un libro de reclamaciones.Customers may request a complaints book at any time.
6. (to require)
a. to need
Esta posición pide un mínimo de cinco años de experiencia.This position needs a minimum of five years of work experience.
b. to cry out for
Este cachorro pide atención constantemente.This puppy is constantly crying out for attention.
8. (legal)
a. to ask for
El acusado le pidió al juez una sentencia más corta.The defendant asked the judge for a shorter sentence.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to order
¿Me da un minuto, por favor? Aún no sé lo que voy a pedir.Would you give me another minute, please? I still don't know what I'm going to order.
10. (religious)
a. to pray
Mi abuela siempre pedía por cada uno de sus nietos.My grandmother used to pray for each and every one of her grandchildren.
pedirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
11. (to claim)
a. to call dibs on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡Me pido el asiento delantero!I call dibs on the front seat!
b. to bag (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Alguien ya se había pedido la mesa de la ventana.Someone had already bagged the table by the window.
a. to order oneself
Voy a pedirme un café. ¿Quieres algo?I'm going to order myself a coffee. Do you want something?
