A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could i ask you a question" in Spanish
Politely ask someone if you can ask them a question in Spanish.
¿Te puedo hacer una pregunta?
teh PWEH-doh ah-SEHR OO-nah preh-GOON-tahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to interrupt someone briefly or when you want to preface a question. It's a good way to signal you have something to ask without just blurting it out.
Alternatives
- ¿Puedo hacerle una pregunta?Use this when addressing someone formally (usted).
- ¿Me permites hacerte una pregunta?This is a slightly more formal and deferential way to ask.
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'poder' incorrectly
Remember to conjugate 'poder' (puedo) and place it before the infinitive 'hacer'.
Forgetting the inverted question mark
All direct questions in Spanish begin with an upside-down question mark (¿).
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it's common and polite to preface a question, especially if you're interrupting or asking something potentially sensitive.
Frequently asked
Can I just say 'Una pregunta'?
While sometimes understood, 'Una pregunta' is abrupt and less polite. It's better to use a full phrase like the ones provided.
