Thursday, 26 March 2015

What Would You Like?

Introduction


This post is about ordering drink in a cafe/ bar.






SCENARIO


Imagine you walk into a cafe/ bar. After exchanging customary greetings, the waiter says to you something like: "what would you like?"

In Spanish, the other person could choose to be less formal and say:
¿Qué te pongo?

Alternatively, he/ she could choose to be more formal and say:
¿Qué le pongo?


OUR TIP

The question in Spanish is an invitation for you to order, which should be quite straightforward. Often giving the name of a drink would be sufficient. However, you can be much more communicative with a little effort. Doing so will also help you practise choosing between the more formal and less formal ways of speaking.

Using the verb in the question for your answer would be quite an appropriate starting point. If you take this option, you would choose between a less*ponme” and a more formal “póngame”.

Here are some examples of informal answers :
  • Ponme un café, por favor (I'll have a coffee, please);
  • Ponme un café con leche, por favor (I'll have a white coffee, please);
  • Ponme una cerveza, por favor (I'll have a beer, please);
  • Ponme un agua mineral con gas, por favor (I'll have a fizzy mineral water, please);
  • Ponme un vino blanco, por favor (I'll have a white wine please);
  • Ponme un vino tinto, por favor (I'll have a red wine please);



*Note

You would use the less formal ponme if you are on first name terms with the waiter; or if you want to come across as friendly and familiar. See how to reply when you are not on first name terms.




Now you should practice answering the question:
¿Qué te pongo?


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