Por favor
neutral
In Portugal "please" is Por favor. A polite alternative, especially in shops and restaurants, is Se faz favor. It is also called Faz favor.
Meaning: polite request (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Por favor | neutral |
| Se faz favor | polite, Portugal |
| Faz favor | polite, Portugal |
Place por favor at the end of a request, such as Um café, por favor. Many speakers also put se faz favor at the end.
Which one should you use?
Faz favor said alone is what a waiter says to invite you to speak, and it can also mean "go ahead" or "here you are".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With people you address as tu you can say se fazes favor, but por favor is always safe.
Did you know?
- In Lisbon an espresso is called uma bica, and in much of the north it is um cimbalino.
Examples in context
- Um café, por favor.A coffee, please.
- A conta, se faz favor.The bill, please.
- Pode ajudar-me, por favor?Can you help me, please?
Example conversation
Ana orders at a pastelaria in Lisbon from the waiter Miguel.
- MiguelFaz favor.Go ahead.
- AnaUma bica e um pastel de nata, por favor.An espresso and a custard tart, please.
- MiguelCom certeza.Certainly.
