What does pedir in Spanish mean?

What is the meaning of the word pedir in Spanish? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use pedir in Spanish.

The word pedir in Spanish means ask for, demand, order, ask, need, want, swimmingly, perfectly, cry out for, be crying out for, ask for advice, apologise, ask for on slate, ask for on credit, make an appointment, call for justice, seek justice, ask for the impossible, ask for 's hand, request the recusal of a judge, request the recusal of the jury, apologise, ask for permission, ask to borrow, make a wish, if it's not asking too much, if it isn't too much to ask. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word pedir

ask for

verbo transitivo (solicitar)

El niño le pidió agua a su madre.
ⓘEsta oración no es una traducción de la original. Maria ordered a hamburger and fries at the restaurant.

demand

verbo transitivo (exigir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
El director pide puntualidad a sus empleados.
The director demanded punctuality from his employees.

order

verbo transitivo (encargar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
He pedido varios paquetes de semillas por internet.
I have ordered several seed packets online.

ask

verbo transitivo (poner precio)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
No he comprado el piso porque piden demasiado dinero por él.
I haven't bought the apartment because they are asking too much money for it.

need, want

verbo transitivo (necesitar)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Estas paredes están pidiendo una mano de pintura.
These walls need a coat of paint.

swimmingly, perfectly

locución adverbial (como se quería)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Las negociaciones salieron a pedir de boca y conseguimos todo lo que queríamos.
The negotiations went swimmingly and we got everything we wanted.

cry out for

locución verbal (figurado (necesitar urgentemente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Estas plantas están pidiendo agua a gritos. El pueblo pide a gritos la ayuda del gobierno.
These plants are crying out for water.

be crying out for

locución verbal (figurado (necesitar urgentemente)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
El pueblo pedía a voces un poco de ayuda del gobierno. La secretaria está pidiendo a voces dinero para pagar la renta.
The secretary is begging for money to pay the rent.

ask for advice

locución verbal (asesorarse con alguien)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Antes de separarse, Mariana le pidió consejo a su abogada.
Before she got a divorce, Mariana sought advice from her attorney.

apologise

locución verbal (disculparse) (UK)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Lo trató mal, pero luego le pidió disculpas.
He treated him badly, but he apologised afterwards.

ask for on slate, ask for on credit

locución verbal (coloquial (compra: no pagarla)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
No tenemos dinero, pide fiado en la tienda y di que pagaremos a fin de mes.

make an appointment

locución verbal (solicitar una cita)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

call for justice

locución verbal (figurado (clamar en público)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
La población pide justicia por la joven asesinada.

seek justice

locución verbal (ante un juez)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pidió justicia ante las autoridades para que no lo despidieran.

ask for the impossible

locución verbal (coloquial (pedir un imposible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Solo pedimos que nos paguen dignamente; no pedimos la Luna.

ask for 's hand

(solicitar en matrimonio)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Martín pidió la mano de su actual prometida en Navidad.
Martin asked for his fiancée's hand at Christmas.

request the recusal of a judge

locución verbal (derecho: rechazar juez por conflicto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

request the recusal of the jury

locución verbal (derecho: rechazar jurado por conflicto)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

apologise

locución verbal (disculparse) (UK)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Si has ofendido a alguien, pídele perdón.
If you've offended somebody, apologise to them.

ask for permission

locución verbal (para hacer algo)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Los alumnos pidieron permiso a sus padres para ir a la excursión.
The students asked for their parents' permission to go on the trip.

ask to borrow

(pedir algo temporalmente) (literal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pedí una computadora prestada en la oficina porque la mía está averiada.
I asked to borrow a computer from the office because mine is broken.

make a wish

locución verbal (anhelar que se cumpla)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tras soplar las velas del pastel, el pequeño pidió un deseo.
After blowing out the candles on the cake, the young boy made a wish.

if it's not asking too much, if it isn't too much to ask

expresión (si no te importa)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
¿Podría traerme un poco más de azúcar, si no es mucho pedir?
Could you bring me a bit more sugar, if it's not too much to ask?

Let's learn Spanish

So now that you know more about the meaning of pedir in Spanish, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in Spanish.

Do you know about Spanish

Spanish (español), also known as Castilla, is a language of the Iberian-Romance group of the Romance languages, and the 4th most common language in the world according to Some sources, while others list it as a 2nd or 3rd most common language. It is the mother tongue of about 352 million people, and is spoken by 417 million people when adding its speakers as a language. sub (estimated in 1999). Spanish and Portuguese have very similar grammar and vocabulary; The number of similar vocabulary of these two languages is up to 89%. Spanish is the primary language of 20 countries around the world. It is estimated that the total number of speakers of Spanish is between 470 and 500 million, making it the second most widely spoken language in the world by number of native speakers.