Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| quaesō |
| sīs |
| sōdēs |
| amābō te |
| amabo |
| si me amas |
To make a polite request, you can use the interjection quaesō. If you are making a negative request, such as "please don't," Latin typically uses noli for a single person or nolite for multiple people followed by an infinitive. For a very formal "please," you can use the phrase si tibi placet, which literally means "if it pleases you".
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial expression amābō te is used idiomatically to mean "please", though its literal meaning is "I will love you".
Which one should you use?
quaesō is a direct and standard interjection derived from the verb meaning "to seek" or "to ask". In contrast, amābō te is a more colloquial way to say please.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
quaesō is the standard form for requests. amābō te is more colloquial and informal. For highly formal situations, use the phrase si tibi placet.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form sīs is a contraction of sī vīs, "if you wish", and sōdēs comes from sī audēs, "if you will". Both follow the request: dīc mihi, sīs, "tell me, please".
Did you know?
- The phrase si me amas is another variation of 'please' that translates literally as 'if you love me', intensifying the colloquial appeal of amābō te.
- In Latin, there is no single, universal word for 'please' like there is in English. Instead, Romans chose between different verbs for seeking, loving or pleasing depending on the social context.
- While quaesō is the standard word for 'please', it comes from a verb that means 'to seek' or 'to search'. Asking for a favor was linguistically viewed as seeking something from another person.
Examples in context
- Vide, amabo, num sit domi.Please see if he is at home.This sentence uses amabo to show how it can be used to ask someone to check a location.
- Adde sensum, amabo te.Add a sentence, please.This sentence uses amabo to request the addition of a sentence.Tatoeba #13540716 by rul, translation #13530430 by rul
- Noli, amabo, domum ire.Please don't go home.This sentence uses amabo in a negative request to ask someone not to go home.Tatoeba #11065693 by soridsolid, translation #2283765 by CK
- Osculare me, si tibi placet.Kiss me, if you please.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marcus is handing a book to Claudia in a library.
- ClaudiaLibrum mihi da, quaesō.Give me the book, please.
- MarcusEcce, Claudia, ecce librum.Here, Claudia, here is the book.
- ClaudiaGratias tibi ago.Thank you.
- MarcusNihil est.It is nothing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries amabo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
