Perguntar vs. Pedir: How to Ask a Question or Make a Request in Portuguese — Practice

Use perguntar when you want information

Perguntar means to ask a question. The person you ask is often introduced with a: perguntei ao atendente (I asked the clerk). To ask whether something is true, use se (whether/if) inside the sentence.

An indirect question keeps ordinary statement order: perguntei se o café estava aberto (I asked whether the café was open). Add onde, quando, or por que when you need a specific detail.

Use pedir for an item, favor, or action

Pedir means to request something. Name the item after the verb: pedir um café (ask for a coffee). To request an action, everyday Brazilian Portuguese often uses pedir para + infinitive: pedi para repetir (I asked them to repeat).

English uses ask for both questions and requests. Decide what the speaker wants: information calls for perguntar; an item, favor, or action calls for pedir.

Use both verbs in one situation

At a café, you can perguntar se a mesa está livre and then pedir o cardápio. One interaction can use both verbs because you first get information and then make a request.

The person you address can follow either verb: perguntar ao garçom onde fica o banheiro; pedir ao garçom uma água. Listen for the rest of the sentence.

Remember: Use perguntar to get information and pedir to request something or ask for an action. Let the rest of the sentence confirm the meaning.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I asked the receptionist where the room is.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Perguntei à recepcionista onde fica a sala.

2. Could you ask whether there are still seats?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode perguntar se ainda há lugares?

3. I’m going to ask for a glass of still water.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou pedir uma água sem gás.

4. I asked the team to confirm the time.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pedi para a equipe confirmar o horário.

5. Can I ask something?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso perguntar uma coisa?

6. I’m going to ask for help carrying this box.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou pedir ajuda para carregar esta caixa.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Use perguntar to get information and pedir to request something or ask for an action. Let the rest of the sentence confirm the meaning.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Perguntar vs. Pedir: How to Ask a Question or Make a Request in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.