vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Los hijos" is a form of "hijo", a noun which is often translated as "son". "Pedir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ask for". Learn more about the difference between "los hijos" and "pedir" below.
el hijo(
ee
-
hoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (relative)
b. child (of unspecified sex)
¿Quieres saber el sexo de tu hijo antes de que nazca?Do you want to know the sex of your child before it's born?
c. kid (colloquial) (of unspecified sex)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Si tienes solo un hijo, es importante que te asegures de que se relaciona con otros niños.If you have just one kid, it's important to make sure that they socialize with other kids.
los hijos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
2. (relatives)
a. children (of unspecified sex)
Tengo cuatro hijos: Ana, Marta, Antonio y Miguel.I have four children: Ana, Marta, Antonio, and Miguel.
b. kids (colloquial) (of unspecified sex)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¿Cuántos hijos tienes? - Tres, dos niños y una niña.How many kids do you have? - Three, two boys and a girl.
d. son and daughter (male and female)
Mis hijos trabajan los dos en la medicina veterinaria. Julia es veterinaria y Carlos es enfermero veterinario.My son and daughter both work in veterinary medicine. Julia is a veterinarian and Carlos is a veterinary nurse.
e. sons and daughters (males and females)
El rey tenía treinta y cinco hijos.The king had thirty-five sons and daughters.
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?
