por favor
3 synonyms for por favor, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Interjection — Please: a Spanish phrase used when making a request or accepting an offer politely.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
if you please
s'il vous plaît
How to use por favor
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
un café, por favor
la cuenta, por favor
más despacio, por favor
Everyday polite Spanish, used in English speech as a borrowing, sometimes jokily.
Etymology
Spanish, literally 'for favour', from Latin pro meaning 'for' and favor meaning 'goodwill'.
Full origin of por favor →Frequently asked questions
What does por favor mean in English?
It means 'please'. Literally it is 'for favour', and it works in exactly the same places English uses please — attached to a request, an order in a restaurant, or on its own as a plea.
What is the difference between por favor and porfa?
Porfa is a clipped, casual shortening of por favor, roughly like saying 'pretty please' or 'plz' among friends. Use por favor with strangers, staff and anyone you would address formally.
How do you reply to por favor?
You do not reply to por favor itself — it is part of the request. Once you have handed something over, the other person says gracias and you answer de nada or por nada.
