When "ordenar" does not mean "to order" and "drogas" aren't "drugs"
I just received a spam telling me where I could "ordenar mis drogas". Two mistakes in Spanish in just three words.
droga vs. medicamento
First of all, in Spanish "drogas" are one thing and "medicamento(s)" are quite another. The first one is the "bad" stuff - the kind that you'll have to go to the local park at midnight in order to buy. Marijuana and cocaine are two examples of "drogas".
The second one (medicamento) is what your doctor prescribes. A "medicamento" could be, among other things, penicillin or cough medicine.
ordenar vs. pedir
The Spanish verb "ordenar" can mean "to order", but only in the sense of telling someone to do something: "el juez le ordenó que no se acercara a la familia" (the judge ordered him not to go near the family).
"pedir" is the verb you want to use when ordering a product or service. Some examples:
Spanish
1. He pedido dos libros en Amazon.
2. ¿Puedo pedirlo por correo?
3. Ella pidió un vestido nuevo pero todavía no ha llegado.
4. No es buena idea pedir medicamentos por correos.
English
1. I've ordered two books from Amazon.
2. Can I order it by mail?
3. She ordered a new dress but it still hasn't arrived.
4. It's not a good idea to buy mail-order drugs.
Brad
