Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Request in Spanish: Solicitud, Pedir & Petición
Solicitud · noun (feminine) / verb · soh-lee-see-TOOD
Request translates to solicitud (noun: a formal request or application), pedir (verb: to ask for), or petición (noun: a petition or formal request). Solicitar is the formal verb counterpart. Pedir is the everyday verb for requesting anything from a favor to a meal at a restaurant. The formality level determines which word fits best.
Solicitud is soh-lee-see-TOOD, four syllables, stress on TOOD. Pedir is peh-DEER, stem-changing e→i. Petición is peh-tee-see-OHN.
Envié una solicitud de empleo a tres empresas distintas.
I sent a job application to three different companies.
Request in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for request, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| solicitud | request | soh-lee-see-TOOD | Default, widely understood |
| pedir | request | Universal — verb, to request or ask for | |
| petición | request | Universal — a petition, a formal request | |
| solicitar | request | Universal — verb, to formally request |
How Native Speakers Use Solicitud
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Job application
Completé la solicitud en línea y adjunté mi currículum.
I completed the online application and attached my résumé.
Solicitud de empleo means job application. Adjuntar means to attach. Currículum (or currículo) is the Spanish word for résumé/CV.
Casual request
Te quiero pedir un favor enorme.
I want to ask you a huge favor.
Pedir is the go-to verb for everyday requests. Pedir un favor, pedir ayuda (to ask for help), pedir permiso (to ask permission).
Formal petition
La comunidad presentó una petición para mejorar el transporte público.
The community submitted a petition to improve public transportation.
Petición is used for formal requests addressed to authorities or organizations. Presentar una petición means to submit a petition.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Solicitud
Using preguntar instead of pedir
Incorrect: Le pregunté un vaso de agua.
Correct: Le pedí un vaso de agua.
Preguntar means to ask a question. Pedir means to ask for something (request). In English, 'ask' covers both; in Spanish, they are completely different verbs.
Confusing solicitud with solicitación
Incorrect: Envié una solicitación al banco.
Correct: Envié una solicitud al banco.
Solicitación is not commonly used (and in some contexts carries negative connotations). Solicitud is the standard noun for a request or application.
Lock in Request Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Solicitud used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using solicitud in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Envié una solicitud de empleo a tres empresas distintas. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Request in Spanish
- What is the difference between pedir and solicitar?
- Pedir is everyday and informal: pedir comida (order food), pedir ayuda (ask for help). Solicitar is formal and bureaucratic: solicitar un visa (apply for a visa), solicitar empleo (apply for a job). They both mean to request, but at different formality levels.
- Does solicitud mean application or request?
- Solicitud covers both meanings seamlessly. Solicitud de empleo is a job application. Solicitud de información is a request for information. The word encompasses any formal submission asking for something, whether it is an application form or a written request.
- How do I conjugate pedir?
- Pedir has an e→i stem change in the present: pido, pides, pide, pedimos, pedís, piden. In the preterite: pedí, pediste, pidió, pedimos, pedisteis, pidieron. The stem change to i occurs in the third-person preterite as well.