Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| por favor | /poɾ faˈboɾ/ | |
| favor de | /faˈboɾ de/ | |
| porfa | /ˈpoɾfa/ | informal |
| porfis | /poɾfis/ (from spelling rules) | colloquial |
| porfi | /ˈpoɾfi/ | Spain, colloquial |
Por favor is the most widely used way to express "please" in Spanish. While it is an interjection used to make polite requests, it is also related to verbs like gustarle, agradarle and placer, which mean to make happy or satisfy.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase por favor literally translates to 'for favor'.
Which one should you use?
Favor de is used as a formal way to request an action. There are also several colloquial variations: porfa is a shortened version, porfis is used to sound cute or endearing and porfi is a similar colloquial form.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For much more informal situations, you can use porfa with friends or family. If you want to sound particularly cute or sweet to persuade someone, you can use the colloquial porfis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The colloquial form porfi is used in Spain.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the formal construction favor de, it is typically followed directly by an infinitive verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ faˈboɾ/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, saying por favor too many times in a single request can paradoxically sound demanding or sarcastic rather than polite.
- The formal phrase favor de is actually a linguistic shortcut. It is an ellipsis of the longer phrase hágame el favor de, which literally means 'do me the favor of'.
- In very formal writing, such as legal documents or official signs, favor de is used to give an order that is phrased as a polite request.
Examples in context
- Sí, ven por favor.Yes, please come.This sentence uses por favor to show a polite request to come.Tatoeba #981186 by Shishir, translation #65364 by Luornu
- La sal, por favor.The salt, please.This sentence uses por favor to ask for an object.Tatoeba #8380981 by ManuelML, translation #8383995 by cromwellt
- Por favor, di algo.Please say something.This sentence uses por favor to request someone to say something.Tatoeba #4566607 by cueyayotl, translation #2062887 by CK
- 2558 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and María are at a restaurant.
- DanielUna botella de agua, por favor.A bottle of water, please.
- MaríaClaro, te la traigo ahora.Sure, I'll bring it to you now.
- DanielY el menú también, por favor.And the menu too, please.
- MaríaAquí tienes, Daniel.Here you go, Daniel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries por favor, favor de, porfa, porfis, porfi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, favor, favor de, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
