Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Beg in Spanish: Rogar
Rogar · verb · rroh-GAHR
The verb 'rogar' captures the English meaning of begging as desperate pleading or earnest requesting. For begging in the sense of asking for money or charity, Spanish uses the distinct phrase 'pedir limosna.' The synonym 'suplicar' conveys even greater desperation than 'rogar,' while 'implorar' reaches the most dramatic extreme of begging.
Say 'rogar' with a rolled or tapped 'r' at the start (rroh-GAHR). The stress falls on the second syllable, and the 'g' before 'a' is a hard 'g' as in English 'go.'
Te ruego que me des otra oportunidad.
I beg you to give me another chance.
Beg in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for beg, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| rogar | beg | rroh-GAHR | Default, widely understood |
| suplicar | beg | more intense pleading | |
| pedir limosna | beg | to beg for money on the street |
How Native Speakers Use Rogar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Desperate plea
Le rogó a su jefe que no lo despidiera.
He begged his boss not to fire him.
Workplace desperation.
Intense supplication
La madre suplicaba a los médicos que salvaran a su hijo.
The mother begged the doctors to save her son.
Using 'suplicar' for heightened emotion.
Asking for charity
El hombre pedía limosna en la esquina del mercado.
The man was begging for money at the corner of the market.
Begging in the street sense.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Rogar
Using 'rogar' for street begging
Incorrect: Él ruega dinero en la calle.
Correct: Él pide limosna en la calle.
The verb 'rogar' means to plead or implore emotionally; for requesting charity or money from strangers, the fixed phrase 'pedir limosna' is the correct expression.
Forgetting stem change
Incorrect: Yo rogo que me escuches.
Correct: Yo ruego que me escuches.
The verb 'rogar' undergoes an o→ue stem change in the present tense for yo, tú, él, and ellos forms, making 'ruego' the correct first-person singular.
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See Rogar used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Beg in Spanish
- What is the difference between 'rogar,' 'suplicar,' and 'implorar'?
- These three verbs form an intensity scale for begging: 'rogar' is earnest pleading, 'suplicar' adds desperation and humility, and 'implorar' represents the most dramatic and emotionally charged form of begging. All three are followed by the subjunctive when used with 'que' and a dependent clause.
- How do I conjugate 'rogar' in the present tense?
- The verb 'rogar' is stem-changing (o→ue) in the present: ruego, ruegas, ruega, rogamos, rogáis, ruegan. Notice that the nosotros and vosotros forms retain the original 'o' because the stress falls on the ending rather than the stem.
- Is 'mendigar' also used for begging in Spanish?
- The verb 'mendigar' specifically means to beg for alms or charity and is more formal than 'pedir limosna.' It derives from 'mendigo' (beggar) and appears primarily in written or literary contexts rather than everyday conversation.