How To Say Ask Him In Spanish

To say “ask him” in Spanish, choose pregúntale if you want him to answer a question or pídele if you want him to give you something or do a favor — the two verbs are not interchangeable.

You probably know the Spanish word for “ask” is preguntar. So when you need to say “ask him,” you might instinctively reach for pregúntale. That works perfectly when you want him to answer a question. But if you’re asking him for something — a favor, an object, permission — Spanish expects a different verb: pedir. Many learners discover this the hard way mid-conversation, and the mix-up is so common that Spanish teachers often devote a full lesson to it.

The honest answer is that “ask him” has two main translations, and the right one depends on whether you’re asking a question or asking for something. There’s also a formal vs. informal layer that changes the verb ending. This guide walks through both verbs, shows you how to form the commands, and gives you phrases you can use right away. By the end, you’ll never hesitate between pregúntale and pídele again.

The Two Verbs: Preguntar And Pedir

Preguntar means “to ask a question” or “to request information.” When you want someone to answer something — a time, a direction, an opinion — preguntar is your verb. For example: Pregúntale qué hora es (Ask him what time it is). The object of preguntar is always a question or an indirect question.

Pedir means “to ask for something,” “to request an object, service, or favor,” or “to order” in a restaurant. When you want him to hand you something or do something for you, use pedir. For example: Pídele un favor (Ask him for a favor). Notice the structure: pedir is followed by a direct object (the thing you’re asking for).

The distinction is simple on paper but easy to forget in conversation. If the goal is to get an answer, use preguntar. If the goal is to get something or get someone to act, use pedir.

Why Context Matters – Questions Vs. Requests

The choice between preguntar and pedir isn’t arbitrary — native speakers apply this logic without thinking. Here are the most common situations where you’ll need one verb or the other.

• Asking a question: Always use preguntar. Example: Pregúntale si viene (Ask him if he’s coming). The object is a question or indirect question.
• Asking for an object: Use pedir. Example: Pídele las llaves (Ask him for the keys). The object is a physical thing.
• Asking for a favor or help: Use pedir. Example: Pídele ayuda (Ask him for help). This is a service, not information.
• Asking for permission: Use pedir. Example: Pídele permiso (Ask him for permission).
• Asking the time or date: Use preguntar. Example: Pregúntale la hora (Ask him the time). This is information.

Keep this simple rule in mind: if you want an answer, use preguntar; if you want him to give you something or do something, use pedir. That distinction will steer you right every time.

How To Form The Command “Ask Him”

Spanish commands (the imperative mood) attach pronouns directly to the end of affirmative verbs. For “ask him,” the pronoun is le (to him). For preguntar, the informal tú command is pregunta + le = pregúntale. The formal usted command is pregunte + le = pregúntele. For pedir, the informal is pide + le = pídele (with a spelling change for stress), and the formal is pida + le = pídale.

Per the grammatical breakdown at Studyspanish’s Pedir Vs Preguntar page, the verb’s object type — a question versus a physical thing — dictates which verb you choose for the command. This rule is fixed across all regions of the Spanish-speaking world.

Notice that in affirmative commands the pronoun attaches to the end, while in negative commands it comes before the verb. Master these five forms and you can handle any “ask him” situation with confidence.

Common Phrases And Examples

Now let’s put these verbs into full phrases you’ll actually use in conversation. Each one includes the correct verb and pronoun attachment.

1. Could you ask him? Informal: ¿Podrías preguntarle? Formal: ¿Podría preguntarle? Use preguntar because you’re asking for information (a question).
2. You need to ask him. Informal: Tienes que preguntarle (for a question) or Tienes que pedirle (for something). Formal: Tiene que preguntarle / Tiene que pedirle.
3. I ask him. Present tense statement: Yo le pregunto (if I ask him a question) or Yo le pido (if I ask him for something).
4. Ask him for help. Formal: Pídale ayuda. Informal: Pídele ayuda. Always use pedir.
5. Ask him when he’s planning to visit. Formal: Pregúntele cuándo piensa venir. Informal: Pregúntale cuándo piensa venir. Use preguntar because the clause is a question.

These examples show how the same pattern applies across different tenses and moods. Once you know the base command, you can adapt it to any situation.

Mastering “Ask Him” In Real Conversations

Real conversations often mix both verbs in the same exchange. For example: Pregúntale si quiere que le pidas algo (Ask him if he wants you to ask him for something). This sentence uses preguntar first (for the question) and pedir second (for the request). Getting comfortable with that switch is a sign of fluency.

SpanishDict’s Pregúntale Translation page provides several real-life examples like Pregúntale cuánto quiere por el coche (Ask him how much he wants for his car). The site also notes that in some informal contexts, dile (tell him) can stand in for “ask him,” but that usage is not standard and can cause confusion. Stick with preguntar and pedir for clarity.

Here’s a quick-reference table for the most common “ask him” scenarios:

Keep this table handy as you practice. With these four phrases, you cover the vast majority of real-world “ask him” situations.

The Bottom Line

Learning to say “ask him” in Spanish isn’t about memorizing one phrase. It’s about knowing whether you’re asking a question (preguntar) or asking for something (pedir), and then using the correct imperative form with the pronoun le. Practice these two verbs in context and the choice becomes instinctive — you’ll stop translating and start speaking naturally.

If you’re preparing for the DELE exam or planning a trip to Spain, a certified Spanish tutor can drill these distinctions until they feel automatic, especially the formal vs. informal register that changes how you address people.