Spanish grammar · Beginner
How to Say Please in Spanish: Por Favor and Polite Requests
Por favor is please in Spanish. Variations: por favor (please), si me hace el favor (if you'd do me the favor, formal), si te / le importa (if you don't mind). Place por favor at the end of the request for a polite tone.
Un café, por favor.
A coffee, please.
What it is
Por favor is please. Goes at the end of the request (or beginning, with a comma). For extra politeness, use the conditional (Me gustaría... = I'd like...) and si me hace el favor (if you'd do me the favor).
Un café, por favor (A coffee, please). Por favor, dime la verdad (Please, tell me the truth).
How to spot it
Standard: por favor. Formal: si me hace el favor, si fuera tan amable. Casual: porfa, porfis (very informal). Combine with conditional: Me podría ayudar? (Could you help me?).
- Por favor. — Please.
- Un café, por favor. — A coffee, please.
- Porfa. (very casual) — Please. (colloquial)
Por favor is universal. The conditional (Me gustaría, Podría) adds politeness even without por favor.
How to Say Please in Spanish Quick Reference
Ways to say please in Spanish
| Expression | Politeness | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Por favor | Standard | Universal |
| Porfa / porfis | Casual | Very informal (friends, family) |
| Si me hace el favor | Formal | Very polite, with usted |
| Si te importa | Polite | If you don't mind (informal) |
| Si fuera tan amable | Very formal | If you'd be so kind |
| Me gustaría... (conditional) | Polite | I'd like... |
| ¿Podrías / Podría...? | Polite | Could you...? |
Common How to Say Please in Spanish Examples in Spanish
Polite requests in Spanish:
Por Favor in Requests
- Un café, por favor.
- A coffee, please.
- Por favor, dime la verdad.
- Please, tell me the truth.
- ¿Me puede ayudar, por favor?
- Can you help me, please?
- Cállate, por favor.
- Please be quiet.
- Espera un momento, por favor.
- Wait a moment, please.
Por favor goes at the start (with comma) or the end. End placement is most common.
Casual / Friendly
- ¿Me pasas el agua, porfa?
- Pass me the water, please.
- Porfis, ven conmigo.
- Pretty please, come with me.
- Ayúdame, porfa.
- Help me, please.
- Una más, porfa.
- One more, please.
Porfa / porfis are very casual / sweet versions of por favor. Used with friends, family, partners. Not for formal contexts.
Formal Requests
- Si me hace el favor, cierre la puerta.
- If you'd do me the favor, close the door.
- ¿Sería tan amable de esperar?
- Would you be so kind as to wait?
- ¿Me podría usted ayudar?
- Could you help me?
- Le agradecería que viniera.
- I'd appreciate it if you came.
Use conditional + usted for formal politeness. Combine with por favor for maximum politeness.
Polite Without Por Favor
- Me gustaría un café.
- I'd like a coffee.
- ¿Podría / Podrías ayudarme?
- Could you help me?
- ¿Sería posible cambiar la fecha?
- Would it be possible to change the date?
- Quisiera reservar una mesa.
- I'd like to reserve a table.
The conditional itself adds politeness. Me gustaría / Quisiera / Podría are polite even without por favor.
How to Say Please
Por Favor Is Universal
Por favor works in any context. Place at the start (with comma) or end of the request. End placement is most common in conversation.
Un café, por favor.
A coffee, please.
Por favor at end or start.
Conditional Adds Politeness
Use conditional (Me gustaría, Podría, Querría) for polite requests. This alone adds politeness even without por favor. Combine both for maximum politeness.
¿Me podría ayudar, por favor?
Could you help me, please?
Conditional + por favor.
Porfa / Porfis Are Very Casual
Porfa is colloquial please (very common in Spain). Porfis is sweeter / cuter (often used by women / kids / cute requests). Don't use in formal contexts.
¿Me ayudas, porfa?
Help me, please?
Porfa = casual please.
Si Me Hace El Favor for Extra Formality
Si me hace el favor = if you'd do me the favor. Used with usted in formal requests. Si fuera tan amable = if you'd be so kind. Both add formality.
Si me hace el favor, espere aquí.
If you'd do me the favor, wait here.
Si me hace el favor = formal.
Common Mistakes with How to Say Please in Spanish
Incorrect: Por favor de hacerlo. — Please do it.
Correct: Por favor, hazlo. / Por favor, hágalo. — Please do it.
Por favor doesn't take de + infinitive in Spanish. Use por favor + imperative (informal) or por favor + usted form. Don't translate from English 'please' + infinitive.
Incorrect: Plis. (anglicism) — Please.
Correct: Por favor. / Porfa. — Please.
Plis (from English please) is an anglicism. Use por favor (standard) or porfa (casual). Plis is heard in some young / urban contexts but sounds non-native.
How to Say Please in Spanish FAQs
- How do you say please in Spanish?
- Por favor is please. Goes at the start (with comma) or end of the request. For casual contexts: porfa, porfis. For very formal: si me hace el favor (if you'd do me the favor).
- Where does por favor go in a sentence?
- Most commonly at the end: Un café, por favor (A coffee, please). Can also go at the start with a comma: Por favor, dime la verdad. End placement is more common in conversation.
- What's the difference between por favor and porfa?
- Por favor is standard / universal. Porfa is colloquial please (Spain especially). Porfis is even sweeter / cuter. Use por favor for any context; porfa / porfis only with friends and family.
- How do I politely ask for something in Spanish?
- Use conditional + por favor: ¿Me podría ayudar, por favor? (Could you help me, please?). The conditional (podría, gustaría) adds politeness even without por favor. For maximum politeness, combine both.
- Is plis the same as por favor?
- No, plis is an anglicism (English please written in Spanish phonetics) and sounds non-native. Always use por favor (or porfa / porfis casually). Plis appears in young / urban speech but is not standard.