Spanish Phrase
Pregúntales a los policías.
Meaning
Literally, “Ask the police officers.” It is a command telling someone to pose a question to the police, not a request to the police themselves. The phrase is used when you want another person to seek information, clarification, or help from the police.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re advising a friend to get directions, report an incident, or clarify a rule by speaking directly to the police. It works in everyday situations, from asking for a street name to reporting a lost item.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pregúntalesalospolicías
Imperative + clitic pronoun
"Pregúntales" is the informal second‑person singular imperative of "preguntar" with the indirect object pronoun "les" attached, meaning “ask them”.
Preposition "a" for indirect objects
In Spanish, the preposition "a" introduces the person or group to whom the question is directed.
Definite article "los"
"Los" is the plural masculine definite article that agrees with "policías".
Noun "policías"
"Policías" is the plural of "policía" (police officer).
🗨In Conversation
No sé a quién debemos acudir para saber si el coche está registrado.
I don’t know who we should go to to find out if the car is registered.
Pregúntales a los policías.
Ask the police officers.
✕Common Mistakes
Pregúntale a los policías.
The pronoun must agree with the plural noun "policías"; use "les" not "le".
Pregúntales los policías.
The preposition "a" is required before the indirect object.
Pregúntales a los policia.
The noun needs the accent and plural form: "policías".
↔Alternatives
Pide información a los policías.
Ask the police for information.
Consulta a los policías.
Consult the police.
Dirígete a los policías y pregunta.
Approach the police and ask.
Cultural Tip
In most Spanish‑speaking countries it’s polite to address officers as "señor policía" or "agente" before asking a question. "Pregúntales" is informal; if you need a formal tone, use "pregúnteles" (second‑person plural formal) or "pregunte a los policías". Also, keep in mind that in some regions the "s" in "policías" is pronounced as /s/ rather than the Castilian /θ/.