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"Pedir" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to ask for", and "pollo" is a noun which is often translated as "chicken". Learn more about the difference between "pedir" and "pollo" below.
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?
el pollo(
poh
-
yoh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (animal)
2. (culinary)
3. (baby bird)
4. (colloquial) (large wad of phlegm) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. loogie (colloquial) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Estaba tan enfermo que estaba tosiendo pollos.He was so sick that he was coughing up loogies.
b. gob (colloquial) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¿Lo viste? Acaba de escupir ese pollo en la calle.Did you see him? He just coughed up that gob on the street.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
5. (colloquial) (young person) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
a. young man (masculine)
Eso es un dispositivo muy elegante que tienes, pollo. ¿Qué es? - Es un teléfono.That's quite a fancy device you have, young man. What is it? - It's a phone.
b. young woman (feminine)
Las pollitas del barrio andan vestidas a la última.The young women in the area all dress in the latest fashions.
c. kid
¿Quieres ir al bar en la calle Hidalgo? - No, está lleno de pollos.Do you want to go to the bar on Hidalgo? - No, it's full of kids.
d. youngster
Mi abuelo me estaba preguntando qué hacen los pollos hoy en día para divertirse.My grandfather was asking me what youngsters like to do for fun these days.
6. (colloquial) (migrant) (Mexico)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Mexico
a. undocumented migrant
El coyote cobra miles de dólares por pasar un pollo al otro lado.The human smuggler charges thousands of dollars to get an undocumented migrant over the border.
