Spanish for Beginners: Saying an Item Is Missing from Your Order
Learn to report a missing item in Spanish with 'No recibí mi ___' and related phrases for correcting an order error politely in Latin American Spanish.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When something is missing from an order, you are not asking for extra; you are correcting a mistake. In Spanish, the most direct beginner pattern is 'No recibí mi ___' (I didn't get my ___). This lesson teaches that pattern, the difference between 'mi' and 'el/la', and how to ask the other person to check the order. You will also learn polite ways to say there is a problem without sounding angry. All examples use broadly useful Latin American Spanish, with regional notes where usage changes.
By the end, you can…
- say that a specific item is missing from my order using 'No recibí mi ___'.
- politely ask a staff member to check or correct an order error.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
No recibí mi café.
I didn't get my coffee.
noh reh-see-BEE mee kah-FEH
Use this when the item is simply absent. 'Recibí' is the first-person past tense of 'recibir' (to receive).
Falta mi sándwich.
My sandwich is missing.
FAHL-tah mee SAHN-dweech
'Falta' literally means 'is lacking/missing.' This is very common in restaurants and is neutral, not rude.
No me trajeron la sopa.
They didn't bring me the soup.
noh meh trah-HEH-rohn lah SOH-pah
Use 'me trajeron' when someone was supposed to bring the item to your table. It focuses on the action, not on blaming a specific person.
Creo que falta algo en mi pedido.
I think something is missing from my order.
KREH-oh keh FAHL-tah AHL-goh ehn mee peh-DEE-doh
A softer, polite way to start. 'Pedido' means order in most of Latin America; in Spain, 'pedido' also works, but 'comanda' is common in restaurants.
¿Puede revisar mi pedido, por favor?
Can you check my order, please?
PWEH-deh reh-vee-SAHR mee peh-DEE-doh por fah-BOR
Use 'puede' (formal 'you') with staff you don't know. With a friend or peer, use 'puedes'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'No recibí mi ___' or 'No recibí mis ___'. Use 'mi' for one item and 'mis' for more than one: 'No recibí mi jugo' (I didn't get my juice), 'No recibí mis papas' (I didn't get my fries). You can also use 'Falta ___' or 'Faltan ___': 'Falta mi ensalada' (My salad is missing), 'Faltan dos tacos' (Two tacos are missing). Notice that 'falta' is used with a singular item and 'faltan' with plural items. This is different from asking for more, which uses 'Quisiera más ___' (I would like more ___) or '¿Me trae otro ___?' (Can you bring me another ___?).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you paid for something or ordered it, but it did not arrive. For example, at a restaurant: 'No recibí mi café.' At a hotel: 'Falta una toalla en mi habitación' (A towel is missing in my room). At a store pickup: 'No recibí mi bolsa.' If you simply want an extra item, do not use 'No recibí'; instead say '¿Me puede traer otro pan, por favor?' (Can you bring me another bread, please?). Keeping the focus on the missing item, not on blame, helps the staff solve the problem quickly.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Disculpe, creo que falta algo en mi pedido.
Excuse me, I think something is missing from my order.dees-KOOL-peh KREH-oh keh FAHL-tah AHL-goh ehn mee peh-DEE-dohClaro, ¿qué falta?
Sure, what is missing?KLAH-roh keh FAHL-tahNo recibí mi café y falta mi sándwich.
I didn't get my coffee, and my sandwich is missing.noh reh-see-BEE mee kah-FEH ee FAHL-tah mee SAHN-dweechLo siento. ¿Puedo revisar su pedido, por favor?
I'm sorry. Can I check your order, please?loh SYEHN-toh PWEH-doh reh-vee-SAHR soo peh-DEE-doh por fah-BORA little context goes a long way
In much of Latin America, 'Disculpe' is a safe, polite way to get a staff member's attention. In Spain, 'Perdone' is also common. Using 'por favor' and a calm tone matters more than perfect grammar. In casual settings, younger speakers may use 'tú' and say '¿Puedes revisar...?', but with unfamiliar staff, 'usted' and 'puede' are usually safer.
One thing to watch for
Using 'No tengo mi café' to mean 'I didn't get my coffee.'
Try this instead: 'No tengo' means 'I don't have,' which can sound like you lost it or never owned it. For an order error, say 'No recibí mi café' or 'Falta mi café.' Example: 'No recibí mi café' clearly means it was not delivered to you.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I didn't get my water' in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
No recibí mi agua.
'No recibí' plus 'mi' and the item works for one item. 'Agua' is feminine, but 'mi' does not change for gender. You could also say 'Falta mi agua' in many contexts.
2Which phrase is better for two missing tacos: 'Falta dos tacos' or 'Faltan dos tacos'?
Show a sample answer
Faltan dos tacos.
'Faltan' is plural because 'dos tacos' is plural. 'Falta' is used with a singular item, like 'Falta un taco.'
3You want to politely ask a server to check your order. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
¿Puede revisar mi pedido, por favor?
This uses formal 'puede' and 'por favor.' With a peer, '¿Puedes revisar mi pedido, por favor?' is also correct.
To report a missing item, use 'No recibí mi ___' or 'Falta mi ___.' Add 'por favor' and a polite tone, and ask staff to check the order instead of demanding extra items.
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