pedir bebidas
/pediɾ bebidas/from spelling rules
To order drinks in Spanish is to pedir bebidas.
The phrase is used to request specific beverages from a server at a restaurant or bar. The verb pedir is the standard way to request items like food or drinks from a waiter.
Which one should you use?
While pedir bebidas refers to the direct act of requesting something at the table, the phrase encargar bebidas implies placing an order for something to be delivered later or prepared in advance.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word for soda is commonly refresco.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use this phrase in the singular form by changing the noun to una bebida to mean 'to order a drink'. When using the first-person singular present tense, the verb 'pedir' is an e-to-i stem-changing verb, so 'I order drinks' is pido bebidas.
How do you pronounce it?
/pediɾ bebidas/
Did you know?
- Using the verb mandar instead of pedir when ordering drinks can come across as giving an order to a servant rather than making a polite request.
- In Spain, the phrase tomar algo is the standard social invitation for drinks, though it literally translates to 'take something'.
- The verb pedir shares a common ancestor with the English word 'petition', meaning both words are rooted in the idea of making a formal request.
Examples in context
- Me gustaría pedir una bebida, por favor.I would like to order a drink, please.
- Me gustaría pedir una copa de vino tinto, por favor.I would like to order a glass of red wine, please.
- ¿Puedo pedir un trago?Can I order a drink?
- ¿Puedo pedir una cerveza bien fría, por favor?Can I order a cold beer, please?
- ¡Claro que sí! Aquí tienes tu cerveza.Of course! Here's your beer.
- Vamos a pedir bebidas en la terraza.We are going to order drinks on the terrace.
- Prefiero pedir bebidas sin alcohol primero.I prefer to order non-alcoholic drinks first.
- Ellos quieren pedir bebidas frías ahora.They want to order cold drinks now.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are sitting at a table in a restaurant.
- JavierElena, ¿quieres pedir bebidas ya?Elena, do you want to order drinks already?
- ElenaSí, tengo mucha sed.Yes, I am very thirsty.
- JavierVoy a llamar al camarero para pedir bebidas.I am going to call the waiter to order drinks.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo quiero un jugo de naranja.Perfect, I want an orange juice.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pedir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
