How to Say Please in Portuguese
Learn how to say please in Portuguese. 'Por favor' is the standard, with 'Por gentileza' as a polite alternative. Pronunciation guide + how to make polite requests.
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Quick answer
To say please in Portuguese, say 'Por favor' (por fah-VOR) — literally 'for favor,' used in every situation, formal or informal. A more formal/polished alternative is 'Por gentileza' (por zhen-chee-LEH-zah). Place 'por favor' at the start or end of a request: 'Um café, por favor' (a coffee, please).
Por favor
/por fah-VOR/ — Portuguese
How to Say Please in Portuguese
Por favor is the cornerstone of Portuguese courtesy — simple, universal, and the key to a polite request, with an elegant formal alternative for extra politeness.
The Phrase
Por favor — pronounced por fah-VOR
It literally means “for favor” — asking someone to do something as a kindness, exactly like Spanish por favor and the English “please.”
Copy the Phrase
The Portuguese phrase for “please” is Por favor (por fah-VOR).
Pronunciation
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Por | por | Soft ‘r’ |
| favor | fah-VOR | Stress on VOR; soft/aspirated final ‘r’ |
In Brazilian Portuguese, the final ‘r’ is soft — in some accents it sounds almost like an ‘h.‘
Por Favor vs. Por Gentileza
| Portuguese | Pronunciation | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Por favor | por fah-VOR | Universal, polite |
| Por gentileza | por zhen-chee-LEH-zah | More formal, refined |
Por gentileza (literally “by kindness/courtesy”) is a polished alternative, common in Brazilian service and professional contexts — you’ll hear it from staff and see it on signs. Por favor is perfectly polite for everything.
Where to Place It
Por favor is flexible:
- At the end: Um café, por favor (a coffee, please) — most common
- At the start: Por favor, me ajude (please help me) — adds emphasis
Polite Requests Beyond Please
Portuguese softens requests with these phrases:
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Você poderia…? | Could you…? (polite) |
| Você pode…? | Can you…? |
| Eu gostaria de… | I would like… (vs. blunt “eu quero”) |
| Eu queria… | I’d like… (softer) |
| Será que você pode…? | Would you be able to…? |
| Pode me trazer…? | Can you bring me…? |
The model polite request: Eu gostaria de um café, por favor (I’d like a coffee, please).
Ordering Politely
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Um café, por favor | A coffee, please |
| A conta, por favor | The check, please |
| Por gentileza, a conta | The check, please (polished) |
| Pode me trazer água? | Can you bring me water? |
Courtesy Pairings
Por favor travels with these polite words:
- Obrigado / Obrigada — thank you (gender = speaker!)
- De nada — you’re welcome
- Com licença — excuse me (to pass by / get attention)
- Desculpa / Desculpe — sorry / excuse me
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Por favor?
'Por favor' is pronounced por fah-VOR. 'Por' = por (soft 'r'). 'Favor' = fah-VOR, with the stress on the final syllable VOR. In Brazilian Portuguese the 'r' sounds are softer/aspirated (the final 'r' in favor can sound almost like an 'h' in some accents). It's nearly identical to Spanish 'por favor,' just with Portuguese pronunciation.
What is 'Por gentileza'?
'Por gentileza' (por zhen-chee-LEH-zah) is a more formal, polished way to say 'please' — literally 'by kindness/courtesy.' It's common in Brazil in service, professional, and polite contexts (you'll hear it from staff, on signs, and in customer service). It sounds more refined than 'por favor,' though 'por favor' is perfectly polite and universal.
Where do you put Por favor in a sentence?
'Por favor' is flexible — it can go at the start or end of a request. 'Por favor, me ajude' or 'Me ajude, por favor' (please help me / help me, please) both work. At the end is very common in everyday speech, especially when ordering: 'Um café, por favor.' At the start adds a bit of emphasis or politeness.
How do you make a polite request in Portuguese?
Beyond 'por favor,' Portuguese uses softening phrases: 'Você poderia...?' (could you...? — polite), 'Você pode...?' (can you...?), 'Eu gostaria de...' (I would like... — polite, vs. blunt 'eu quero' = I want), 'Será que você pode...?' (would you be able to...? — softer). 'Eu gostaria de um café, por favor' is a model polite request.
How do you order food politely in Portuguese?
Common polite requests: 'Um café, por favor' (a coffee, please), 'A conta, por favor' (the check, please), 'Eu queria...' (I'd like... — softer than 'eu quero'), 'Pode me trazer...?' (can you bring me...?), 'Eu gostaria de...' (I would like...). 'Por gentileza, a conta' is a polished way to ask for the bill.