por favor
Lemma Details
Translation: please; if you please; kindly
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: The phrase 'por favor' literally means 'for favor' or 'as a favor'. It comes from the preposition 'por' (for, by) and the noun 'favor' (favor, kindness). The English word 'favor' shares the same Latin root 'favor, favoris', making this an easy cognate to remember. While English uses the single word 'please' derived from 'if you please' or 'if it pleases you', Spanish maintains the explicit reference to doing something as a favor or courtesy.
Commonality: 100%
Guessability: 80%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think 'for a favor' - you're asking someone to do something as a favor to you.
- The English word 'favor' is almost identical to the Spanish 'favor', making half of this phrase instantly recognizable.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'por favor' is an essential politeness marker used in virtually all requests. It's considered more important to use 'por favor' in formal situations, but it's common in all registers. Unlike in some English-speaking contexts where 'please' might sometimes be omitted in casual requests, omitting 'por favor' in Spanish can often make a request sound abrupt or rude.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'por favor' means 'please', 'por fin' means 'finally' or 'at last'. Both begin with 'por' but have completely different meanings and uses.
Confused word:
Por fin terminé mi tarea.
I finally finished my homework.
Notes: The preposition 'por' has many uses in Spanish and appears in numerous phrases with distinct meanings.
Mnemonic: 'Favor' relates to kindness (please), while 'fin' relates to an end (finally).