por favor
neutral
In the Dominican Republic por favor is the usual way to say please, and porfa is the casual short form among friends. It is also called hazme el favor.
Meaning: polite request (adverb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| por favor | neutral |
| porfa | casual |
| hazme el favor | polite request |
Add por favor at the end of a request, as in Una botella de agua, por favor. With a friend, porfa sounds lighter.
Which one should you use?
The phrase hazme el favor means "do me the favor" and is used to ask for something politely, though it can also sound sharp depending on tone.
Did you know?
- Dominican coffee is usually served small and strong, often with plenty of sugar.
Examples in context
- Una botella de agua, por favor.A bottle of water, please.
- Ayúdame, porfa.Help me, please.
- Hazme el favor de esperar.Please wait for me.
Example conversation
Marlene orders at a small restaurant in Puerto Plata.
- MarleneBuenas tardes. Un café, por favor.Good afternoon. A coffee, please.
- MeseroEnseguida.Right away.
- MarleneGracias.Thank you.
