pedir para llevar
/pediɾ paɾa ʝebaɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, to say "order to go" is pedir para llevar.
The phrase pedir para llevar is used when you want to request food from a restaurant to be taken away and eaten elsewhere. You can also use the shorter phrase para llevar to specify that you want your order to go. If a server asks how you will be dining, para llevar is the direct opposite of para comer aquí, which means "to eat here".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb pedir (to ask for/order), the preposition para (for) and the infinitive llevar (to carry/take). Literally, it means "to ask for to carry".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, it is common to simply say Para llevar, por favor when requesting an order to go.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the full phrase, the verb pedir must be conjugated to match the subject, such as pido para llevar for "I order to go".
How do you pronounce it?
/pediɾ paɾa ʝebaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb llevar comes from the Latin levāre, which means 'to raise' or 'to lift'. This explains why the English word 'levitate' shares the same distant ancestor.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, requesting food para llevar is less common in traditional sit-down restaurants than in the US, as dining is seen as a slow social event.
- In some Latin American countries, people use the word domicilio to describe food delivered to their home, rather than just para llevar.
Examples in context
- Quiero una pizza para llevar, por favor.I want a pizza to go, please.
- Quiero pedir para llevar, por favor.I want to order to go, please.
- ¿Podemos pedir para llevar una pizza?Can we order a pizza to go?
- Es más rápido pedir para llevar.It is faster to order to go.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are deciding what to eat for dinner at home.
- MaríaTengo mucha hambre, Alejandro.I am very hungry, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Quieres pedir para llevar algo?Do you want to order something to go?
- MaríaSí, vamos a pedir para llevar comida china.Yes, let's order Chinese food to go.
- AlejandroPerfecto, yo hago la llamada.Perfect, I will make the call.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, para, pedir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
