pregúntalo
/pɾeɡuntalo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "ask it" translates to Spanish as pregúntalo.
What does it mean word for word?
The form pregúntalo is composed of the imperative verb pregunta (ask) and the direct object pronoun lo (it/him).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form pregúntalo is the imperative (command) form used for the informal tú subject. If you want to say "ask it to him" or "ask it to her", you must add an indirect object pronoun, resulting in pregúntaselo.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾeɡuntalo/
Did you know?
- While pregúntalo means 'ask it', the verb preguntar cannot be used to 'request' a physical object. To ask for a glass of water, a speaker must use pedir, otherwise they are asking a question rather than making a request.
- The word preguntar shares a distant root with the English word 'question'. Both stem from the Latin 'quaerere', which means 'to seek' or 'to inquire'.
- Using pregúntalo as a command can sometimes sound aggressive or blunt in Spanish, whereas adding por favor is almost always culturally mandatory for politeness.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría preguntarlo?Could I ask it?
- Disculpe, ¿puedo preguntarlo?Excuse me, can I ask it?
- No tengas miedo, simplemente pregúntalo.Don't be afraid, just ask it.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are studying for a test together.
- MateoNo entiendo este problema de matemáticas.I don't understand this math problem.
- LucíaPuedes enviarle un mensaje al tutor.You can send a message to the tutor.
- MateoMe da vergüenza escribirle.I'm embarrassed to write to him.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, pregúntalo y ya está.Don't worry, ask it and that's it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
