por favor abre la puerta
/poɾ faboɾ abɾe la pweɾta/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "please open the door" is expressed as por favor abre la puerta.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for someone to unlock or move a door to allow entry or exit.
Which one should you use?
The phrase abre la puerta on its own acts as a direct command to open the door, whereas adding por favor turns the command into a polite request.
How does it change in a sentence?
To show respect or maintain a formal tone, the informal verb form abre is changed to the formal abra.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ faboɾ abɾe la pweɾta/
Did you know?
- While puerta means 'door', in some regions it is used colloquially in phrases like darle la puerta to describe kicking someone out or ending a relationship.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to knock and then say ¿Permiso? instead of a full sentence like por favor abre la puerta when entering a room.
- The word puerta shares an ancient root with the English word 'port', as both derive from the Latin 'porta', meaning a gate or entrance.
Examples in context
- "Por favor abre la puerta." "Solo un minuto.""Please open the door." "Just a minute."This sentence shows a request to open the door followed by a response of "Just a minute."Tatoeba #7684877 by Ricardo14, translation #5172655 by Hybrid
- Por favor, abra la puerta. Estoy cargando unas cajas.Please open the door. I am carrying some boxes.
- Le ruego que abra la puerta, por favor. Necesito llegar al hospital rápidamente.I beg you to open the door, please. I need to get to the hospital quickly.
- Por favor, abre la puerta. Quiero enseñarte algo emocionante.Please open the door. I want to show you something exciting.
- ¿Me abres la puerta, por favor? Tengo las manos ocupadas con las compras.Will you open the door for me, please? I have my hands full with the shopping.
- Por favor abre la puerta para el repartidor.Please open the door for the delivery person.
- No puedo entrar, por favor abre la puerta.I can't get in, please open the door.
Example conversation
Elena is standing outside the house.
- ElenaAlejandro, por favor abre la puerta.Alejandro, please open the door.
- AlejandroYa voy, dame un segundo.I'm coming, give me a second.
- ElenaTengo las bolsas del mercado.I have the grocery bags.
- AlejandroListo, ya está abierta.Done, it's open now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries favor, la, por, puerta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
