What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of por favor (please) and dime, which combines the imperative verb di (tell or say) and the indirect object pronoun me (to me).
Which one should you use?
The form por favor dime is used when addressing someone as tú (the informal "you"), whereas por favor dígame is used when addressing someone as usted (the formal "you"). Other ways to express this include the informal question ¿Me puedes decir, por favor? (Can you tell me, please?) or the polite conditional request Por favor, podría decirme (Could you please tell me?).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you might hear Decime, por favor to mean "Tell me, please". In Mexico, an informal way to say "please tell me" is Dime, porfa, which uses the abbreviation porfa.
How does it change in a sentence?
por favor dime uses the tú (informal) imperative. If you are speaking to someone in a formal context, switch to the formal imperative dígame to form por favor dígame.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ faboɾ dime/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, dime is often used as a way to answer the phone or respond when someone calls your name, functioning like 'Yes, I am listening' rather than a request for information.
- Using por favor in a very casual setting with close friends can sometimes be interpreted as sarcasm or a sign that the speaker is actually annoyed.
- The word dime belongs to a class of verbs where the imperative form di is an irregular remnant of the Latin dicere, which is also the ancestor of the English word 'dictate'.
Examples in context
- Por favor dime la verdad.Please tell me the truth.This sentence shows how to use por favor dime to ask for the truth.Tatoeba #666572 by leoruilova, translation #38455 by CK
- Por favor dime que no es verdad.Please tell me it's not true.This sentence shows how to use por favor dime to ask someone to confirm if something is not true.Tatoeba #4589439 by DarkHollow, translation #4589433 by DarkHollow
- Por favor dime como llegar a Boston.Please tell me how to get to Boston.This sentence shows how to use por favor dime to ask for directions.Tatoeba #5199462 by Elyte, translation #5198826 by Objectivesea
- Por favor, dime dónde se encuentra la oficina del directorPlease tell me where the director's office is
- Por favor, podría decirme cómo se llega al museo?Could you please tell me how to get to the museum?
- Dime, por favor, qué opinas de esta películaTell me, please, what do you think about this movie
- ¿Me puedes decir, por favor, dónde compraste esos zapatos tan bonitos?Can you tell me, please, where did you buy those beautiful shoes?
- Dime, porfaPlease tell me
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are discussing a secret party.
- AlejandroPor favor dime dónde es la fiesta.Please tell me where the party is.
- ElenaNo puedo, es una sorpresa.I can't, it is a surprise.
- AlejandroPero yo quiero ir, Elena.But I want to go, Elena.
- ElenaTe diré mañana, Alejandro.I will tell you tomorrow, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
