lea, por favor
/ˈlea poɾ faˈboɾ/word by word
The English phrase "read, please" is translated into Spanish as lea, por favor.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for someone to read a text aloud or silently.
What does it mean word for word?
Lea is the imperative form of the verb leer (to read), and por favor is the standard phrase for "please".
Which one should you use?
The default form lea, por favor is the formal version of the request. Other variations like Por favor, lea are also formal and convey the same meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes based on who you are addressing. Lee, por favor is the informal version used for people you are close to. If you are requesting that more than one person read, use the plural form lean, por favor.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈlea poɾ faˈboɾ/
Did you know?
- The word leer comes from the Latin 'legere', which originally meant 'to gather' or 'to collect' before it meant 'to read'.
- In highly formal settings like courtrooms or ceremonies, the phrase procédase a la lectura is used instead of a simple request to read.
- The term leer can be used metaphorically to describe 'reading' a person. In Spanish, saying someone is 'reading' a situation or a person's intentions is a common way to describe social intuition.
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are in a Spanish class.
- JavierElena, lea, por favor, la página diez.Elena, read page ten, please.
- ElenaClaro, lo hago ahora mismo.Sure, I will do it right now.
- Javier¿Puede leer más despacio?Can you read more slowly?
- ElenaSí, leeré más lento.Yes, I will read slower.
