Perguntar vs. Pedir: How to Ask a Question or Make a Request in Portuguese
Use perguntar to seek information and pedir to request an item, help, or an action—then practice common sentence patterns.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
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.
Use perguntar when you want information
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.
Perguntei à recepcionista onde fica a sala.
I asked the receptionist where the room is.
Você pode perguntar se ainda há lugares?
Could you ask whether there are still seats?
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.
Vou pedir uma água sem gás.
I’m going to ask for a glass of still water.
Pedi para a equipe confirmar o horário.
I asked the team to confirm the time.
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.
Posso perguntar uma coisa?
Can I ask something?
Vou pedir ajuda para carregar esta caixa.
I’m going to ask for help carrying this box.
Put it into practice
Use perguntar to get information and pedir to request something or ask for an action. Let the rest of the sentence confirm the meaning.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I’m going to ask for help carrying this box”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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