por favor
neutral, Cuba
Please in Cuban Spanish is por favor. For a more courteous request, Cubans also say me haces el favor or hágame el favor to someone older.
Meaning: polite request (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| por favor | neutral, Cuba |
| hágame el favor | formal |
| me haces el favor | polite |
Por favor is right after a request, as in Un café, por favor. It works in shops, offices and homes.
Which one should you use?
Hágame el favor uses the polite usted form and fits when you talk to an older person or a stranger. Me haces el favor is used with a friend.
How does it change in a sentence?
Add de plus a verb after favor for a request, as in hazme el favor de venir.
Did you know?
- Saying por favor and gracias is expected in Cuba and signals politeness to everyone.
Examples in context
- Hágame el favor de pasar.Please come in.
- ¿Me haces el favor de ayudarme?Could you please help me?
Example conversation
A customer, Elisa, orders in a small cafe run by Pepe in Havana.
- ElisaBuenos días, un café, por favor.Good morning, a coffee, please.
- PepeEnseguida.Right away.
- ElisaGracias.Thank you.
