Italian does not use one all-purpose translation for “please.” The most common polite requests use per favore or per piacere; the best phrase depends on the sentence and situation.
please in Italian = per favore / per piacere, pronounced approximately pehr fah-VOH-reh / pehr pyah-CHEH-reh.
How Do You Say please in Italian?
Use per favore or per piacere to make a request polite. Both are usually translated as “please.”
Meaning: please (in a polite request)
Place per favore near the beginning or end of a request. Prego usually means “you’re welcome,” “go ahead,” or “please, after you,” rather than serving as a direct substitute in every request.
Different Ways to Express please
Several expressions can sound polite, but their use changes with requests, invitations, and replies. In a shop, combine them with the questions in price in Italian; for a restaurant order, vorrei is a useful polite verb form.
1. Per favore — please
per favore — please. This is the most widely useful everyday expression for polite requests. It literally relates to doing someone a favor.
2. Per piacere — please
per piacere — please. This is another natural way to soften a request. It is close in meaning to per favore and can vary by speaker or region.
3. Per cortesia — please / as a courtesy
per cortesia — please; as a courtesy. This expression can sound more formal or courteous, especially in customer service or written communication.
4. Prego — you’re welcome / go ahead
prego — you’re welcome; go ahead. Prego is commonly used in response to grazie, or when inviting someone to proceed. It is not normally inserted into a request as a direct equivalent of English please.
please in Italian: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Italian | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| per favore | please | Everyday requests |
| per piacere | please | Polite requests |
| per cortesia | please; as a courtesy | Formal situations |
| prego | you’re welcome; go ahead | Replies and invitations |
How to Pronounce per favore / per piacere
In per favore, stress the final syllable of fa-vo-re: fah-VOH-reh. In per piacere, the c before e sounds like “ch,” and the stress falls on the final syllable: pyah-CHEH-reh. Keep each written vowel clear.
Example Sentences Using please
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: A coffee, please.
Use: A concise, polite order.
Meaning: Can you help me, please?
Use: Per piacere softens the request.
Meaning: Could you show me the way, please?
Use: This form sounds courteous and slightly more formal.
Frequently Asked Questions About please in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the most common way to say please in Italian?
Per favore is a broadly useful and common expression.
Is per piacere also correct?
Yes. Per piacere is also natural and means “please.”
Does prego mean please?
It can invite someone to proceed (“please, go ahead”), but it most often means “you’re welcome” after grazie.
Where does per favore go in a sentence?
It can appear before or after the request: Per favore, mi aiuti? or Mi aiuti, per favore?
How can I sound more formal?
Use per cortesia in a courteous or service setting, and use the formal Lei forms when addressing someone politely.
Summary: please in Italian
Use per favore or per piacere for “please” in ordinary requests. Choose per cortesia for a more formal tone. Prego usually means “you’re welcome” or “go ahead.”
