Preguntar Vs. Pedir (2 Ways to Say “To Ask” in Spanish)

This used to really confuse me. I first learned that "preguntar" is how to say "to ask" in Spanish. But then, I started to see "pedir" used for "to ask". What is going on? Well, in this short video, I explain what’s going on. I give you a quick and easy shortcut for knowing when to use “preguntar” and when to use “pedir”.

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[Summer-xein]

Jordan - Thank you for posting this. I became a member to your website and I hope you have continued to see growth because you are a wonderful human being and I, like many viewers, appreciate you taking time to create these videos.

[petebowen]

I hope you know I’m going to watch every one of your videos!

[denniscrawshaw]

An excellent video for both explanations and a slower less frenetic pace/presentation, thanks for posting this!

[dsarmy]

I like how everything is broken down and made so easy. Great videos!

[silverarrow]

Just the best Spanish teacher on you tube ... Another great video

[jonahkane]

Jordan I can’t thank you enough for your videos!

[bobmoe]

Wondering if you might do videos on the conditional and the subjunctive? I’m trying to learn them, but they’re confusing for me!
También gracias por todo que tu haces

[ericbaugher]

Nice to see you back in action Jordan!

[orobill]

Jordan thank you very much for the published content and yes I am a paid subscriber

[gibbonschip]

Soy cantautor. Estoy aprendiendo español pero no sé esa palabra hasta hoy. Gracias.

[ritawei]

Hola Jordan! Me ha sorprendido un poco que no conocieras la palabra "cantautor/a", ya que tu nivel de castellano es bastante bueno y no es una palabra rara. Es verdad que si no estás hablando de música no se usa, pero es bastante común porque aquí (te hablo desde la Península Ibérica) hay una gran tradición de cantautores. Y bueno, en Mesoamérica y Sudámerica ni te cuento, hay maravillas de cantautores!! Violeta Parra, Mercedes Sosa, Chavela Vargas, Víctor Jara, Silvio Rodríguez...
Además, se me ocurre que escuchar sus canciones puede ser muy bueno para ampliar vocabulario una vez que ya se tiene cierto nivel, porque los cantautores saben utilizar muy bien el lenguaje y suelen llevar un acompañamiento musical suave, que deja oír muy bien la letra.
Yo quiero ser profe de español para extranjeros y de inglés para españoles, y tus vídeos me resultan SÚPER ÚTILES. Respondes a preguntas muy abstractas que me he hecho a veces a lo largo de mi aprendizaje del inglés (por ejemplo "I ask myself/I wonder", pero como este muchos), o intentando explicarle a alguien el por qué de algo en inglés. Así que muchas gracias por compartir tu sabiduría enseñando 🤗 Que tengas un buen día, majo!!

[jhonyermo]

Hot damn. What a great ES tidbit this was. In a short video I have oodles of useful information I can use immediately. Puedo usar ahora. Muy útil.
So proud to be a Lifetime Member. But I always will consider myself to be a, "Gringo Forever." ¡Órale!

[PokedogZelda]

Great video! Thanks for using my intro!

[JustKixs]

Let's make things more confusing for those learners he he he:
Cuestionar - Interrogar - Demandar - Preguntar - Pedir - Ordenar - Preguntarse - Pedirse

[kellybolyard]

Did anyone else notice his shirt says ham...?
Also, great video!

[houseofmatrix]

Good video I get confused between the 2

[AwestrikeFearofGods]

"To question" is a synonym for "to inquire". Even in English, "to question a question" doesn't sound right.

[Hootyhoo-jqvq]

The way Señor Jodan explains things really works for me.

[nicedog]

I think you teach grammar very well because you make it interesting. I hate it when language teachers tell us not to bother learning grammar, not to bother learning vocabulary, don’t look anything up! Don’t write anything down! Just listen, listen, listen and everything will be ok! Then they give the example of how we learn as children but children are helpless and completely immersed usually in one language so it is completely different for adults learning a second language.

[carolyntierney]

Dude, you sound like a robot. The difference between preguntar and pedir is this. Preguntar means to ask a question. Pedir is to beg.