Muévase, por favor
In Spanish, 'please move' is Muévase, por favor.
This phrase is used as a polite request for someone to change their physical position to make space.
Which one should you use?
While Muévase, por favor is the standard form, you may use Muévete, por favor in informal settings with friends, family or people your own age. If you are addressing a group of people, use the plural form Muévanse, por favor.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, Por favor, muévanse is used to say 'Please move'. In Spain, you may encounter Por favor, apartaos or Disculpad, necesito pasar.
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask a group of people to move, use the plural form Muévanse, por favor.
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of saying 'please move', it is often more common and polite to simply say Permiso when you are trying to pass through a crowd.
Did you know?
- While Muévase is grammatically correct, using it in a crowded public space can sometimes sound like a command from a police officer or official rather than a polite request.
- In some Caribbean dialects, people may use a sharp click of the tongue or a subtle gesture accompanying Permiso to signal the need to move through a crowd.
- The word por is a linguistic 'doublet' of the English 'pro', as both originate from the same Latin root prō.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿podría moverse un poco, por favor?Excuse me, could you please move a bit?
- Perdón, necesito pasar, ¿pueden apartarse?Excuse me, I need to pass, can you move aside?
- Muévase, por favor, para que pueda pasar.Please move, so that I can pass.
- Muévase, por favor, para ver mejor la pantalla.Please move to see the screen better.
Example conversation
Javier and María are waiting in a crowded line.
- JavierPerdone, muévase, por favor.Excuse me, please move.
- MaríaOh, lo siento mucho.Oh, I am very sorry.
- JavierNo pasa nada, gracias.It is okay, thank you.
- MaríaDe nada, Javier.You are welcome, Javier.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries favor, por, CC BY-SA 4.0.
