How to Ask “What Do You Recommend?” in Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to ask for recommendations in Spanish is an essential skill that will enhance your travel experiences, dining adventures, and everyday conversations with native speakers. Whether you’re exploring a new restaurant in Madrid, shopping for souvenirs in Mexico City, or simply seeking advice from Spanish-speaking friends, knowing the right phrases can make all the difference in creating authentic connections and discovering hidden gems.

The Basic Question: ¿Qué Recomiendas?

The most straightforward way to ask what someone recommends in Spanish is ¿Qué recomiendas? This direct translation of What do you recommend? works perfectly in informal situations when speaking with friends, family members, or people your own age. The verb recomiendas comes from recomendar, which means to recommend, and it’s conjugated in the second person singular informal form.

When using ¿Qué recomiendas?, you’re addressing one person with whom you have a casual relationship. This phrase is versatile and can be used in various contexts, from asking a friend which movie to watch to inquiring about the best beach to visit in their hometown. The beauty of this expression lies in its simplicity and directness, making it an excellent starting point for beginners.

Formal Situations: ¿Qué Recomienda Usted?

In more formal contexts, such as speaking with business associates, elderly people, or service professionals you don’t know well, you’ll want to use ¿Qué recomienda usted? or simply ¿Qué recomienda? This formal version shows respect and maintains appropriate social boundaries. The verb form recomienda is the formal second person singular, used when addressing someone as usted rather than tú.

Understanding when to use formal versus informal language is crucial in Spanish-speaking cultures. Generally, it’s better to start with the formal usted form when meeting someone new, especially in professional settings, restaurants, hotels, or when speaking with people significantly older than you. Native speakers will often invite you to use the informal tú if they feel comfortable, saying something like puedes tutearme, which means you can address me informally.

Adding Courtesy with Por Favor

To make your request even more polite, you can add por favor to either the formal or informal version. Por favor means please and can be placed at the beginning or end of your question. For example, ¿Qué recomiendas, por favor? or Por favor, ¿qué recomienda? both sound natural and courteous. Adding por favor is especially recommended when asking for recommendations from service staff, such as waiters, hotel concierges, or shop assistants.

Context-Specific Recommendations

Spanish offers several ways to make your recommendation request more specific by indicating exactly what type of suggestion you’re seeking. These variations help the other person understand precisely what kind of advice or information you need.

Restaurant and Food Recommendations

When dining out, you might ask ¿Qué me recomiendas del menú? which means What do you recommend from the menu? This phrase is incredibly useful in restaurants and immediately signals to the waiter that you’re interested in their expert opinion. The addition of del menú specifies that you want a recommendation about the food options available.

Alternatively, you could ask ¿Cuál es la especialidad de la casa? meaning What is the house specialty? This question specifically requests information about the restaurant’s signature dishes. Many establishments take great pride in their specialties, and asking about them often leads to excellent meal choices and engaging conversations with the staff.

For a more casual approach, try ¿Qué está bueno aquí? which translates to What’s good here? This informal expression is perfect for taco stands, casual eateries, or when speaking with friends about where to eat. The phrase uses está bueno, a common way to describe tasty food in everyday Spanish.

Travel and Tourism Recommendations

When exploring a new place, you can ask ¿Qué lugares me recomiendas visitar? which means What places do you recommend visiting? This question is ideal for hotel staff, tour guides, or locals who know the area well. The verb visitar specifically indicates you’re looking for places to visit, making your request crystal clear.

Another useful variation is ¿Qué hay que ver por aquí? translating to What is there to see around here? This more colloquial expression is perfect for striking up conversations with locals and often yields insider tips about hidden attractions that tourists might otherwise miss. The phrase por aquí means around here and gives a casual, friendly tone to your inquiry.

Shopping and Product Recommendations

In retail situations, ¿Qué me recomiendas comprar? asks What do you recommend I buy? This phrase works well in boutiques, markets, or specialty shops where staff can offer expert guidance. You can make it even more specific by adding details: ¿Qué vino me recomiendas comprar? for wine recommendations, or ¿Qué libro me recomiendas comprar? when browsing a bookstore.

For a broader approach, try ¿Cuál me conviene más? meaning Which one suits me better? or Which one is more convenient for me? This question is particularly helpful when comparing options and seeking advice about which product, service, or choice would be most appropriate for your needs. The verb convenir implies suitability and practicality, not just personal preference.

Alternative Phrases for Asking Recommendations

Spanish offers numerous ways to request suggestions, and learning alternatives will make your Spanish sound more natural and help you understand native speakers better.

Using Aconsejar Instead of Recomendar

¿Qué me aconsejas? is another common way to ask for recommendations, using the verb aconsejar which means to advise. While recomendar and aconsejar are similar, aconsejar often implies seeking more personal or important advice. You might use ¿Qué me aconsejas? when asking a friend about a significant decision, though it works equally well for everyday recommendations.

The formal version would be ¿Qué me aconseja? and this phrasing is commonly heard in professional contexts, such as when consulting with a doctor, lawyer, or financial advisor about important matters.

Suggesting Ideas with Sugerir

The verb sugerir means to suggest and offers yet another option: ¿Qué sugieres? or ¿Qué me sugieres? This phrasing is perhaps slightly softer than recomendar and works well when you want to hear someone’s ideas without necessarily committing to follow their advice. In formal situations, you would say ¿Qué sugiere? maintaining the respectful tone.

Regional Variations and Cultural Notes

Spanish is spoken across many countries, and while the core phrases for asking recommendations remain consistent, you’ll encounter fascinating regional differences that reflect local culture and language evolution.

Latin American Variations

In many Latin American countries, especially Mexico, you might hear people use ¿Qué me recomienda de comer? specifically when asking about food recommendations. The phrase de comer emphasizes the eating aspect and is a natural way locals phrase the question in casual restaurants and food stalls.

In Argentina and Uruguay, the use of vos instead of tú changes the conjugation. You would say ¿Qué me recomendás? with an accent on the final syllable. This voseo is characteristic of River Plate Spanish and is considered completely normal and standard in these regions.

Spanish Regional Expressions

In Spain, you might hear the expression ¿Qué me pones? in bars and casual restaurants, which literally means What are you putting for me? but functionally asks the server to recommend or choose something for you. This very informal phrase reflects the trust and casual relationship often present in neighborhood establishments where regulars are well known.

Spaniards also commonly use ¿Qué tal está…? followed by a specific dish name, asking How is the…? as an indirect way of seeking a recommendation. For example, ¿Qué tal está la paella? asks about the quality of the paella, implicitly seeking the server’s honest opinion about whether it’s worth ordering.

Expanding Your Request with Additional Details

To make your recommendation request more specific and get better tailored advice, you can add information about your preferences, dietary restrictions, or specific interests.

Expressing Preferences

When you have specific tastes, you can say ¿Qué me recomiendas que sea…? followed by your preference. For example, ¿Qué me recomiendas que sea picante? asks for a spicy recommendation, while ¿Qué me recomiendas que sea vegetariano? requests vegetarian options. This structure uses the subjunctive mood with sea, which is the proper grammatical form for expressing wishes or requirements.

You can also use ¿Tienes alguna recomendación para alguien que…? meaning Do you have any recommendation for someone who…? This allows you to describe yourself or your situation. For instance, ¿Tienes alguna recomendación para alguien que visita por primera vez? asks for recommendations suited to a first-time visitor.

Dietary Restrictions and Special Needs

When dietary concerns are important, phrases like ¿Qué platos me recomiendas sin gluten? for gluten-free options, or ¿Qué me recomiendas sin lácteos? for dairy-free choices become essential. These specific requests help servers guide you toward appropriate menu items while ensuring your health needs are met.

Responding to Recommendations

Knowing how to ask for recommendations is only half the conversation. Understanding how to respond appropriately will help you engage more fully with Spanish speakers.

Accepting a Recommendation

When someone offers a recommendation you’d like to follow, you can respond with Perfecto, lo probaré meaning Perfect, I’ll try it, or Suena bien, lo pediré which means Sounds good, I’ll order it. The verb probar means to try or taste, while pedir means to order or request.

A simple Gracias por la recomendación meaning Thanks for the recommendation shows appreciation for their help. You can make it even warmer with Muchas gracias por tu/su recomendación, adding emphasis with muchas and choosing between tu for informal or su for formal situations.

Asking Follow-Up Questions

To gather more information about a recommendation, try ¿Por qué lo recomiendas? asking Why do you recommend it? This shows genuine interest and often leads to valuable insights. Another useful follow-up is ¿Cómo es? meaning What is it like? which invites the person to describe the recommendation in more detail.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When learning to ask for recommendations in Spanish, several common errors can make your Spanish sound unnatural or create confusion.

Conjugation Errors

One frequent mistake is using the infinitive form incorrectly. Saying ¿Qué recomendar? instead of ¿Qué recomiendas? or ¿Qué recomienda? sounds incomplete and ungrammatical. Remember that the verb must be conjugated to match the person you’re addressing.

Another error involves mixing formal and informal forms. Using ¿Qué recomiendas usted? combines the informal verb form with the formal pronoun, creating an awkward mismatch. Keep your formality level consistent throughout the sentence.

Word Order Issues

Unlike English, where we might say What do you recommend to me?, Spanish typically places the indirect object pronoun before the verb. Saying ¿Qué recomiendas me? instead of ¿Qué me recomiendas? sounds wrong to native speakers. The correct position for me is immediately before the conjugated verb.

Practice Scenarios

To help solidify your understanding, here are some realistic scenarios where you might use these phrases, complete with sample dialogues.

Restaurant Scenario

You: ¿Qué me recomienda del menú?
Waiter: Le recomiendo nuestro pescado del día. Está fresco y muy sabroso.
You: Perfecto, lo pediré. Gracias.

This simple exchange demonstrates the formal recommendation request, a natural response from the server using the verb recomendar in first person, and your acceptance of the suggestion.

Travel Information Scenario

You: Hola, es mi primera vez en esta ciudad. ¿Qué lugares me recomiendas visitar?
Local: Te recomiendo visitar el centro histórico y el museo de arte. Son impresionantes.
You: Suena bien. ¿Cómo es el museo?
Local: Es muy interesante, tiene una colección excelente de arte contemporáneo.

This conversation shows how asking for recommendations can lead to a natural exchange of information and help you gather details about suggested activities.

Building Your Confidence

Mastering the art of asking for recommendations in Spanish opens doors to authentic interactions and enriching experiences. Start by practicing the basic phrases until they feel natural, then gradually incorporate more specific variations based on context. Don’t worry about making mistakes; Spanish speakers generally appreciate the effort and will be happy to help you improve.

Remember that cultural context matters just as much as vocabulary. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for recommendations is not just about gathering information but also about building rapport and showing trust in someone’s judgment. Take time to listen to their suggestions and follow up with genuine interest.

As you practice, pay attention to how native speakers phrase their questions in different situations. Watch Spanish-language shows, listen to podcasts, or engage in language exchange conversations to hear these phrases used naturally. The more exposure you have to authentic Spanish, the more comfortable you’ll become with asking for and giving recommendations yourself.

Conclusion

Asking for recommendations in Spanish is a valuable skill that extends far beyond simple vocabulary memorization. Whether you use the straightforward ¿Qué recomiendas? with friends or the more formal ¿Qué me recomienda? in professional settings, you now have the tools to seek advice confidently in Spanish. By understanding the nuances between recomendar, aconsejar, and sugerir, recognizing regional variations, and knowing how to make your requests more specific, you can navigate restaurants, shops, and travel situations with ease while building meaningful connections with Spanish speakers around the world.