Whether you are ordering at a café, asking for directions, or making a polite request, “please” is a useful word to know in Italian. The most common translation works in many everyday situations, while a few alternatives help you adjust the tone.
Quick answer:
“Please” in Italian is per favore (pronounced pehr fah-VOH-reh). You can also say per piacere.
How Do You Say Please in Italian?
The most common way to say “please” in Italian is per favore. It works in many everyday requests, from ordering food to asking someone to repeat something. Place it at the beginning or end of the request: Per favore, mi aiuti? means “Could you help me, please?” and Un’acqua, per favore means “A water, please.”
Italian often expresses politeness through the verb form as well as through per favore. The form vorrei comes from volere, “to want”. In a café, a simple request like Un cappuccino, per favore is natural. For a more complete request, you can say Vorrei un cappuccino, per favore (“I’d like a cappuccino, please”).
Other Ways to Say Please
Per piacere is another common expression meaning “please.” It is very similar to per favore and is widely understood: Ripeti, per piacere means “Repeat that, please.” The choice between the two can vary by speaker and region.
Per cortesia also means “please,” with a more formal or courteous tone in many contexts. You might use it when speaking to a stranger or making a service request: Per cortesia, potrebbe indicarmi la stazione? means “Could you please point out the station?” The phrasing of the request contributes to the formality too.
Prego has a different role. It often means “you’re welcome,” “please, go ahead,” or “here you are,” rather than the “please” added to a request. For example, after someone says grazie (“thank you”), you can reply prego (“you’re welcome”).
Making a Polite Request
Use per favore with a question or request to make your meaning clear. With someone you know, you can use the informal puoi: Puoi aprire la finestra, per favore? means “Can you open the window, please?” With a stranger or in a formal situation, use può: Può aiutarmi, per favore? means “Can you help me, please?”
Another polite option is potrebbe (“could you”): Potrebbe parlare più lentamente, per favore? means “Could you speak more slowly, please?” In a restaurant, Vorrei ordinare, per favore means “I’d like to order, please.”
How to Pronounce Per Favore
Pronounce per favore as pehr fah-VOH-reh, with the stress on the middle syllable of favore: fa-VO-re. Keep each vowel distinct, especially the final e. In Italian, the r is tapped or lightly rolled; a single quick tongue tap is enough to be understood.
Example Sentences Using Please
These phrases show how “please” fits into everyday Italian:
- Un caffè, per favore. — A coffee, please.
- Per favore, può ripetere? — Could you repeat that, please?
- Mi porti il conto, per favore. — Please bring me the bill.
- Puoi aspettare un momento, per piacere? — Can you wait a moment, please?
- Potrebbe parlare più lentamente, per favore? — Could you speak more slowly, please?
- Per cortesia, dov’è la fermata dell’autobus? — Excuse me, where is the bus stop?
Common Mistakes
Using prego in every request: prego commonly means “you’re welcome” or invites someone to proceed; use per favore to say “please” when asking for something. Forgetting the tone of the verb: puoi is informal, while può or potrebbe is more appropriate with a stranger or in a formal setting. Translating word for word: Italian requests often sound natural with a polite verb phrase such as vorrei (“I would like”), together with per favore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is the most common way to say please in Italian?
Per favore is the most common general translation of “please.”
What is the difference between per favore and per piacere?
Both mean “please” and are widely understood. The preference can vary by speaker or region.
Does prego mean please?
Usually not in a request. Prego commonly means “you’re welcome,” “go ahead,” or “here you are.” Use per favore to add “please” to a request.
Summary: Please in Italian
“Please” in Italian is usually per favore; per piacere is another natural option. Use per cortesia for a courteous tone, and remember that prego usually means “you’re welcome” or “go ahead.”
