por favor
everyday
In Peru "please" is por favor. Peruvians like diminutives, so por favorcito is also heard as a softer request. Porfa is the quick casual form.
Meaning: polite request word (adverb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| por favor | everyday |
| porfa | casual |
| por favorcito | warm, Peru |
Put por favor at the end or the start of a request: Un café, por favor. It is expected with waiters, drivers and shop staff.
Which one should you use?
Por favorcito sounds sweet and pleading, so it fits requests to friends or family more than formal ones.
Did you know?
- Por favor literally means "as a favor".
Examples in context
- Un café, por favor.A coffee, please.
- Ayúdame, por favorcito.Help me, please.
- Pásame la sal, porfa.Pass me the salt, please.
Example conversation
Customer Rosa orders lunch from the waiter Andrés at a restaurant in Lima.
- RosaBuenas tardes. Un ceviche, por favor.Good afternoon. A ceviche, please.
- AndrésCon gusto. ¿Algo de tomar?With pleasure. Something to drink?
- RosaUna chicha morada, por favor.A chicha morada, please.
