por favor
/puʁ faˈvoʁ/
The English word 'please' can be translated into Portuguese as por favor. Wiktionary also lists faça favor and se faz favor.
Meaning: interjection to make a polite request (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| por favor | /puʁ faˈvoʁ/ (Brazil) /puɾ faˈvoɾ/ (São Paulo) |
| faça favor | |
| se faz favor | /si ˈfa(j)s faˈvoʁ/ (Brazil) /si ˈfa(j)s faˈvoɾ/ (São Paulo) |
The phrase is used as an interjection to make polite requests. Related verbs and nouns include agradar, aprazer and prazer, which relate to the concept of making someone happy or satisfying a desire.
Which one should you use?
While por favor is used in both Brazil and Portugal, the forms faça favor and se faz favor are more characteristic of regional usage patterns.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, se faz favor is a common way to say 'please', literally meaning 'if [you] do [me the] favor'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase por favor is an adverbial phrase and does not change its form based on the subject or verb of the sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
/puʁ faˈvoʁ/
Did you know?
- While por favor is used for requests, the related verb agradar can mean both 'to please' and 'to stroke' or 'to pet' an animal.
- In Portugal, using the form faça favor can often serve as a way to get someone's attention, much like saying 'Excuse me' in English.
- The root of favor is connected to the Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'to notice', suggesting that to favor someone is to pay attention to them.
Examples in context
- Quem é, por favor?Who is this, please?This sentence shows how to use por favor when asking for identification.Tatoeba #4644965 by KimiP, translation #37901 by CM
- O menu, por favor.The menu, please.This sentence shows how to use por favor when ordering something like a menu.Tatoeba #13768995 by Covered, translation #12273065 by sundown
- Por favor, me diga.Please, tell me.This sentence shows how to use por favor when making a direct request.Tatoeba #1331096 by brauliobezerra, translation #38579 by CK
- Por favor, poderia dar-me uma sugestão de um bom restaurante nesta área?Please, could you give me a suggestion for a good restaurant in this area?
- Se faz favor, poderia abrir a janela? Está muito quente aqui.Please, could you open the window? It's very hot in here.
- Faz favor, podes passar-me o sal?Please, can you pass me the salt?
- Se fazes favor, empresta-me a tua bicicleta por um dia.Please, lend me your bicycle for a day.
- 2321 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a coffee shop.
- GabrielUm café, por favor.A coffee, please.
- JulianaCom açúcar ou sem?With sugar or without?
- GabrielSem açúcar, por favor.Without sugar, please.
- JulianaAqui está, Gabriel.Here it is, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries por favor, faça favor, se faz favor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries favor, por, se, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
