limpio por favor
/limpjo poɾ faboɾ/from spelling rules
The phrase "clean please" in Spanish is translated as limpio por favor.
This phrase is used to request that someone clean a space or an object.
Which one should you use?
Use limpia, por favor for a direct command to one person in a casual setting. Use limpiar, por favor if you are pointing at a mess and stating the action needed rather than giving a direct command. For a more formal request to one person, use limpie por favor.
How does it change in a sentence?
To issue a command to a single person in a casual setting, you should use the verb form limpia instead of the adjective limpio.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective limpio (clean) instead of the imperative verb limpia (clean) when trying to give a command.
Did you know?
- The word limpio comes from the Latin limpidus, while the more formal Spanish word límpido was borrowed back from Latin later as a doublet.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking someone to clean using a direct command like limpia can sound overly harsh if not paired with por favor or a softening phrase.
- The phrase por favor is so essential that omitting it when requesting a service can be perceived as a lack of basic manners rather than just a shortcut.
Examples in context
- ¿Podría limpiar mi habitación, por favor?Could you clean my room, please?
- Limpia la mesa, porfaClean the table, please
Example conversation
Lucía asks Daniel to help her with the living room.
- LucíaDaniel, el sofá limpio por favor.Daniel, the sofa clean please.
- DanielEstá bien, lo haré ahora.Alright, I will do it now.
- LucíaGracias, que quede muy bien.Thanks, make sure it looks great.
- DanielNo te preocupes, Lucía.Don't worry, Lucía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries favor, limpio, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
