preguntar
Lemma Details
Translation: to ask; to question; to inquire
Part of Speech: verb
Etymology: From Latin 'percontari' (to inquire, investigate) which evolved to 'praecunctari' in Vulgar Latin. The Latin term combines 'per' (thoroughly) and 'cunctari' (to deliberate). English words like 'question' and 'inquiry' come from different Latin roots, making 'preguntar' an interesting contrast to English vocabulary for asking questions.
Commonality: 95%
Guessability: 40%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pre' (before) + 'guntar' (sounds like 'grunting') – before you get an answer, you have to grunt out a question!
- Associate with English 'pregnant' (with a question) – when you're 'pregnant' with curiosity, you need to 'preguntar'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, asking direct questions can sometimes be seen as less intrusive than in English-speaking contexts. However, there are still social norms about what types of questions are appropriate in different situations. For example, questions about salary or personal finances might be more common among friends in some Spanish-speaking countries than in the US or UK.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'preguntar' means 'to ask' in the sense of asking a question, 'pedir' means 'to ask for' or 'to request' something.
Confused word:
Te pido un favor.
I'm asking you for a favor.
Notes: This is one of the most common confusions for English speakers since English uses 'ask' for both concepts.
Mnemonic: Think: 'preguntar' is for questions, 'pedir' is for petitions.
Explanation: 'Preguntar' is neutral asking, while 'cuestionar' implies questioning the validity or challenging something.
This word:
Le pregunté su nombre.
I asked him his name.
Notes: 'Cuestionar' is more formal and often used in academic or legal contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Cuestionar' sounds like 'question' but has a more critical tone than simple 'preguntar'.