👋❓🍽️

How to Say ‘Hi, what can I get you?’ in Spain Spanish

Hola, ¿qué te pongo?

OH-lah keh teh POHN-goh

[OH-lah keh teh POHN-goh]

💬 Usage Tip: Poner usually means "to put", but behind a bar it means "to serve". You can use it yourself: ¿Me pones un café? "Can I get a coffee?"

🇪🇸 In Spain: Spanish bar staff almost always use tú with customers, even strangers. It's friendly, not rude, and you can answer the same way.

Phrase Breakdown

Hola,

OH-lah

Hello,

The 'h' is silent: O-la.

Example

Hola, buenos días.

Hello, good morning.

Words in this phrase

Hola

[OH-lah]

Hello / Hi

A common greeting used any time of day; neutral and friendly when starting a conversation.

Example

Hola, quería compartir contigo por qué Jesús es importante para mí.

Hi, I wanted to share with you why Jesus is important to me.

¿qué te pongo?

keh teh POHN-goh

what can I get you?

This is a typical bar or café phrase in Spain, literally 'what do I put you?'. Stress 'qué' and 'PON-go'.

Example

¿Qué te pongo de beber?

What can I get you to drink?

Words in this phrase

qué

[keh]

what

An interrogative word used to ask for information or clarification.

Example

¿Qué tipo de cultura valoras en una empresa?

What type of culture do you value in a company?

[teh]

to you

Indirect object pronoun for "tú" used in polite questions.

Example

Te propongo algo: ¿te parece bien si hablamos de Jesús con calma?

I propose something: does it seem okay to you if we talk about Jesus calmly?

pongo

[POHN-goh]

I serve / shall I get (you)

From 'poner'; in bars it's the usual way to ask what a customer wants.

Example

¿Qué le pongo, señora?

What can I get you, madam?

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“This app is my secret weapon in Barcelona! Just enough to go about daily life and no more feeling lost or helpless while my husband and I live abroad.”

Michelle C., 30, Mom of Two

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer

“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”

Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager