por favor

es
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please, if you please, please, come on, seriously
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/poɾ faˈboɾ/
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A courtesy formula that softens a request or adds force to an emotional appeal.

Examples

  • ¡Por favor, no te vayas todavía!
    Please, don't leave yet!
  • Sí, por favor, me encantaría probarlo.
    Yes, please, I would love to try it.
  • Te lo pido por favor, baja la voz.
    I'm begging you, lower your voice.
  • ¡Ay, por favor! Eso no se lo cree nadie.
    Oh, come on! Nobody believes that.
  • Déjame terminar, por favor.
    Please, let me finish.

Similar words

te lo ruego
tenga la bondad
vamos
porfa
porfa
si es tan amable
haga el favor
anda ya

Meanings

Polite request or response

social
neutral
Added to a request to make it courteous, or to a yes or no response when accepting or refusing something politely.

Examples

  • ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana, por favor?
    Can you close the window, please?
  • Un café con leche, por favor.
    A coffee with milk, please.
  • Sí, por favor, me encantaría probarlo.
    Yes, please, I would love to try it.
  • No, por favor, ya he comido bastante.
    No, thank you, I have already eaten enough.
  • Espere aquí, por favor, mientras preparo los documentos.
    Please wait here while I prepare the documents.

Similar words

Plea or impatient protest

social
informal
An emotional appeal for something to stop or be believed, often showing urgency, annoyance, or disbelief rather than ordinary politeness.

Examples

  • ¡Por favor, no te vayas todavía!
    Please, don't leave yet!
  • ¡Ay, por favor! Eso no se lo cree nadie.
    Oh, come on! Nobody believes that.
  • Déjame terminar, por favor.
    Please, let me finish.
  • ¡Por favor! ¿Otra vez con la misma excusa?
    Seriously! The same excuse again?
  • Te lo pido por favor, baja la voz.
    I'm begging you, lower your voice.

Similar words

Etymology

A transparent combination of por, here meaning “for,” and favor, meaning “kindness” or “help,” literally asking something as a favor.

FAQ

What does por favor mean?

Por favor usually means “please,” but an emotional por favor can also mean “come on” or express a plea.

Where does por favor go in a Spanish sentence?

It can come before or after a request, or appear inside it between commas.

Is por favor formal or informal?

Its ordinary courtesy use is neutral. The exasperated use is more conversational and depends strongly on tone.

What is the informal form of por favor?

Porfa is a common informal shortening and appears among this entry's synonyms.

Where does por favor come from?

It combines por, “for,” and favor, “kindness” or “help,” so it presents the request as a favor.

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