despacio, por favor
/desˈpaθjo poɾ faˈboɾ/word by word
In Spanish, "slow, please" is expressed as despacio, por favor.
This phrase is a polite request used when you want someone to speak or move at a slower pace. While despacio, por favor is a direct request, it is often more natural to say más despacio, por favor (more slowly, please) when asking a speaker to reduce their current speed.
What does it mean word for word?
The word despacio is an adverb meaning "slowly".
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask someone to speak even more slowly, you can add más (more) before despacio.
How do you pronounce it?
/desˈpaθjo poɾ faˈboɾ/
Did you know?
- While despacio is used for speed, the word lento also means 'slow'. However, lento often describes a characteristic or a permanent state, whereas despacio is used for the manner of an action.
- Because despacio comes from the idea of 'having space', it shares an ancestral connection with the English word 'space'.
- Depending on the region, the 'c' in despacio is pronounced as a 's' sound in Latin America and often as a 'th' sound in central and northern Spain.
Examples in context
- Hable más despacio, por favor.Speak more slowly, please.
- Camine más despacio, por favor.Walk more slowly, please.
- Más despacio, por favor, no entiendo.Slower, please, I don't understand.
Example conversation
A woman is walking with a friend who is moving too quickly.
- MaríaJavier, ve más despacio, por favor.Javier, go more slowly, please.
- JavierLo siento, María, voy muy rápido.I'm sorry, María, I am going very fast.
- MaríaEstá bien, pero no corras.It's okay, but don't run.
- JavierDe acuerdo, caminaré despacio.All right, I will walk slowly.
