Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"Please" in Spanish: por favor
por favor
Please in Spanish is por favor (por fah-VOR). Put por favor at the start or end of a request. A soft tone matters as much as saying por favor.
Ordering drinks
Dos aguas, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce por favor
Say it
por fah-VOR
/poɾ faˈβoɾ/
por fah-VOR. Stress VOR in favor. Keep por short. Link the words smoothly: por favor.
"Please" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| por favor | please Standard polite request marker anywhere. | Standard polite request marker anywhere. |
| porfa | please (casual) Texting and close friends; short for por favor. | Texting and close friends; short for por favor. |
| hazme el favor | do me the favor Asking someone to help with a task. | Asking someone to help with a task. |
| si me hace el favor | if you would be so kind Extra polite with usted. | Extra polite with usted. |
| favor de… | please (do)… Common on signs and formal notices in Latin America. | Common on signs and formal notices in Latin America. |
How to use por favor in real life
- 1Ordering drinks
Dos aguas, por favor.
Two waters, please.
Por favor at the end is the most common order pattern.
- 2Asking for help
Por favor, ¿me ayudas con esto?
Please, can you help me with this?
Starting with por favor softens a direct ask.
- 3At a hotel desk
La llave del 210, por favor.
The key for 210, please.
Staff expect por favor with simple service requests.
Mistakes English speakers make with por favor
Incorrect: Por favore.
Correct: Por favor.
Spanish ends with favor, not favore. Say por favor.
Incorrect: Please, un café.
Correct: Un café, por favor.
Keep the request in Spanish: por favor, not English please.
Good to know
Por favor is polite, but Latin American requests also rely on softeners like ¿me das…? and a friendly tone. On public signs you will often see favor de no fumar instead of por favor no fumar.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a café counter
ChatPal
Buenas. ¿Qué vas a pedir?
Hi. What are you going to order?
You
Un café con leche, por favor.
A coffee with milk, please.
ChatPal
Claro. ¿Algo más, por favor?
Sure. Anything else, please?
You
No, solo eso. Gracias.
No, just that. Thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Please" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Please" in Spanish
Where does por favor go in a sentence?
Usually at the end: un café, por favor. Starting with por favor also works.
Is porfa okay with strangers?
Porfa is casual. Use full por favor with staff and older adults.
How do you pronounce por favor?
por fah-VOR with stress on VOR. Keep both parts of por favor clear.
Does por favor change for ustedes?
No. Por favor stays the same. Only the verb form changes for ustedes.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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