How to Ask for Laundry by Weight in Spanish
Learn to ask if laundry is charged by kilo, state how many kilos you have, and request same-day return in practical Latin American Spanish.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When you drop off laundry in a Spanish-speaking place, the first question is often whether the price is by weight or by piece. This lesson teaches you to ask ¿Cobran por kilo? (Do you charge by kilo?), say how many kilos you have, and ask if same-day return is possible. You will use these phrases at a front counter, not in a classroom. The focus is on clear, polite questions and simple answers. You will also learn to confirm the number of kilos and ask when to come back. No prices or policies are assumed; you ask staff directly.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether laundry service is charged by kilo.
- state how many kilos of laundry I have.
- ask if same-day return is possible.
- confirm a pickup time politely.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Cobran por kilo?
Do you charge by kilo?
koh-brahn pohr kee-loh
Use at the counter to ask about the pricing method. It is a yes/no question, so intonation rises at the end.
Son 3 kilos.
It's 3 kilos.
sohn tres kee-lohs
Use when you already know the weight or when staff ask you. For one kilo, say Es 1 kilo.
¿Puede ser para hoy mismo?
Can it be for today itself?
pweh-deh sehr pah-rah oy mees-moh
A polite way to ask for same-day return. Hoy mismo adds emphasis: today, not tomorrow.
¿A qué hora puedo pasar?
What time can I come by?
ah keh oh-rah pweh-doh pah-sahr
Use after arranging the service to ask when to pick up. Pasar is common for stopping by.
¿Me lo puede pesar, por favor?
Can you weigh it for me, please?
meh loh pweh-deh peh-sahr pohr fah-bohr
Use if you do not know the weight. The staff can weigh it and tell you the kilos.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about a service condition, use ¿Cobran por...? (Do you charge by...?). Replace kilo with another unit if needed: ¿Cobran por pieza? (Do you charge by piece?). To state a quantity, use Son + number + kilos. Son 3 kilos. For one kilo, use Es 1 kilo because kilo is singular. To ask for same-day service, use ¿Puede ser para hoy mismo? This pattern works for other time requests: ¿Puede ser para mañana? (Can it be for tomorrow?).
When to use it
Use these phrases at a laundry counter or when handing clothes to staff. Start with ¿Cobran por kilo? to avoid surprises. If they say yes, you can say Son 3 kilos or ask ¿Me lo puede pesar, por favor? Then ask ¿Puede ser para hoy mismo? If they agree, confirm the time with ¿A qué hora puedo pasar? Keep your tone polite; adding por favor is normal. In some regions, staff may say lavandería for the shop, but the questions stay the same.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buenos días. ¿Cobran por kilo?
Good morning. Do you charge by kilo?bweh-nohs dee-ahs koh-brahn pohr kee-lohSí, cobramos por kilo. ¿Cuántos kilos trae?
Yes, we charge by kilo. How many kilos do you have?see koh-brah-mohs pohr kee-loh kwahn-tohs kee-lohs trah-ehSon 3 kilos. ¿Puede ser para hoy mismo?
It's 3 kilos. Can it be for today itself?sohn tres kee-lohs pweh-deh sehr pah-rah oy mees-mohSí, puede ser. ¿A qué hora puede pasar?
Yes, it can be. What time can you come by?see pweh-deh sehr ah keh oh-rah pweh-deh pah-sahrA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American cities, laundry shops may charge by weight or by piece. Asking ¿Cobran por kilo? is a normal, polite way to check. Staff may use usted or tú depending on the country and the shop. In Mexico and Central America, usted is common in service settings; in parts of South America, tú may be used. When in doubt, use usted forms like puede and trae. Adding por favor softens requests. Do not assume same-day service is always available; ask directly.
One thing to watch for
Saying *Es 3 kilos* instead of *Son 3 kilos*.
Try this instead: Use Son for plural: Son 3 kilos. Use Es only for one kilo: Es 1 kilo. The verb agrees with the number of kilos, not with the laundry.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask if the shop charges by kilo?
Show a sample answer
¿Cobran por kilo?
This is the standard yes/no question for pricing by weight. You could also say ¿El precio es por kilo? but ¿Cobran por kilo? is the most direct.
2You have 4 kilos. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Son 4 kilos.
Use Son with a plural number. For one kilo, say Es 1 kilo. Both are correct depending on quantity.
3Ask politely if the laundry can be ready today.
Show a sample answer
¿Puede ser para hoy mismo?
This asks for same-day return. You can also say ¿Está para hoy? but hoy mismo emphasizes today. Staff may answer with a time.
Ask ¿Cobran por kilo? first, state Son + number + kilos, and request same-day return with ¿Puede ser para hoy mismo? Then confirm the time with ¿A qué hora puedo pasar?
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