por favor
/puʁ faˈvoʁ/
por favor is the Portuguese way to say please. 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) |
por favor is the most basic and widely used expression for "please" when making a polite request. In informal settings, you can add né to the end of the phrase, as in Por favor, né?, to mean "please, right?" Note that while these words are used for requests, the related word prazer means "pleasure" and is used in greetings such as Muito prazer (Nice to meet you).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase por favor is composed of the preposition por (for/by) and the noun favor (favor).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal alternative to "please", you can use Por gentileza.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression se faz favor is particularly used in Portugal.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/puʁ faˈvoʁ/
Did you know?
- Portuguese speakers may use por favor sarcastically to express annoyance, effectively turning a polite request into a plea for someone to stop doing something.
- In some Portuguese dialects, particularly in rural areas, the phrase faça favor is used as a polite way to get a stranger's attention, similar to 'excuse me'.
- The word favor comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *gʰoweh₁, which originally meant 'to notice'.
Examples in context
- Quem é, por favor?Who is this, please?This example shows how to use por favor when asking who is at the door.Tatoeba #4644965 by KimiP, translation #37901 by CM
- O menu, por favor.The menu, please.This example shows how to use por favor when requesting a menu.Tatoeba #13768995 by Covered, translation #12273065 by sundown
- Por favor, me diga.Please, tell me.This example shows how to use por favor when asking someone to tell you something.Tatoeba #1331096 by brauliobezerra, translation #38579 by CK
- Poderia me ajudar, por favor?Could you help me, please?
- Por favor, traga-me o menu.Please, bring me the menu.
- Por favor, fale mais devagar.Please speak more slowly.
- Se faz favor, poderia repetir as instruções?Could you please repeat the instructions?
- Traga-me a conta, se faz favor.Bring me the bill, please.
- Se faz favor, aguarde um momento.Please wait for a moment.
- Por gentileza, preencha este formulário.Please fill out this form.
- Por gentileza, envie-me o relatório até amanhã.Please send me the report by tomorrow.
- Você poderia me emprestar sua caneta, por gentileza?Could you please lend me your pen?
- Por favor, me empresta seu carro, né?Please, lend me your car, right?
- Preciso da sua ajuda, por favor, né?I need your help, please, right?
- Pega meu casaco, faz favor?Could you pick up my coat, please?
- Faz favor, abre a janela.Please, open the window.
- 2321 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana is asking Rodrigo for help in the kitchen.
- JulianaRodrigo, me ajude com as compras, por favor.Rodrigo, help me with the groceries, please.
- RodrigoClaro, Juliana. O que eu faço?Of course, Juliana. What do I do?
- JulianaColoque as sacolas na mesa, por favor.Put the bags on the table, please.
- RodrigoTudo bem, eu faço isso agora.All right, I'll do that now.
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.
