A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Please and thank you" in Spanish
The essential Spanish phrases for politeness: 'please' and 'thank you'.
Por favor y gracias
por fah-VOR ee GRAH-see-ahsneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use 'por favor' when asking for something, like ordering food or requesting help. Follow up with 'gracias' after receiving it or after someone does you a favor.
Alternatives
- Por favorUse when you only need to say 'please'.
- GraciasUse when you only need to say 'thank you'.
- Muchas graciasUse when you want to emphasize your gratitude.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'por favor' with 'favor'
'Favor' means 'favor' (as in a good deed), not 'please'.
Pronouncing 'gracias' like 'grass-ee-as'
The 'c' in 'gracias' sounds like 's' in most of Latin America, not like 'k'.
A small cultural note
Using 'por favor' and 'gracias' is very important in Spanish-speaking cultures and shows good manners. It's common to hear them frequently throughout the day.
When you'd actually say this
-
Ordering coffee at a crowded counter
You're at a busy panadería in Mexico City, the smell of fresh conchas filling the air, and the woman behind the counter is already looking at the next customer. You catch her eye and say 'Un café de olla, por favor y gracias' in one breath to signal you're polite and not going to waste her time. She nods and turns to the machine without a word — that's the transaction working exactly as it should.
-
Asking a stranger for directions
You've stopped on a narrow sidewalk in Bogotá and a man in a delivery uniform is walking toward you — he's the only person not on a phone. You hold up your map and say 'Disculpe, ¿me puede ayudar, por favor y gracias?' before he even stops, which softens the interruption. He slows down, takes the map, and points you toward the right street.
-
Thanking a host family at dinner
Your host mother in Guadalajara has just set a plate of pozole in front of you after a long day, and two of her kids are already eating. You catch her eye before she sits down and say 'Por favor y gracias' as you gesture for her to pass the lime — it's a small moment, but she smiles because it tells her you've been paying attention to how the family talks.
Related ways to say it in Spanish
- Si me hace el favor — If you would be so kind / if you'd do me the favor
- More formal and deferential than 'por favor'; used in Colombia and parts of Venezuela when addressing someone older or in a service role where you want to show extra respect.
- Gracias de antemano — Thanks in advance
- Used in written requests — emails, notes, forms — when you're asking for something before the person has done it; sounds stiff in casual spoken conversation.
- Te lo agradezco — I appreciate it / I'm grateful to you for it
- Warmer and more personal than 'gracias' alone; used with someone you know, signaling that the favor actually meant something to you rather than being a routine exchange.
- ¿Me regala...? — Could you give me... / May I have...?
- Common in Colombia as a polite way to request something in a shop or restaurant — it replaces 'por favor' in the request itself and already carries the politeness built in, so adding 'por favor' afterward can sound redundant there.
Notes for English speakers
- English speakers often pause between 'por favor' and 'gracias' as if they are two separate sentences, but in natural Spanish speech the two run together quickly when used as a set phrase — the 'y' is short and unstressed, closer to the English 'ee' than 'and'.
- In Spain, 'gracias' is pronounced with a 'th' sound in the middle — 'GRAH-thyahs' — because of the Castilian distinction between 'c/z' and 's'; if you use the Latin American 's' pronunciation in Madrid, people will understand you perfectly, but you will sound distinctly American or Latin American to Spanish ears.
- Unlike English, where 'please and thank you' can function as a slightly ironic or firm parental phrase ('You'll say please and thank you'), 'por favor y gracias' carries no such double meaning in Spanish — using it in a stern tone with a child would just sound oddly formal rather than pointed.
Frequently asked
how to say please and thank you in spanish
The most common way is 'por favor y gracias'. 'Por favor' means 'please' and 'gracias' means 'thank you'.
when to use por favor
Use 'por favor' when you are asking for something or making a request. It's the standard way to say 'please'.
how to say thank you very much in spanish
To say 'thank you very much,' you can say 'muchas gracias'. 'Gracias' alone means 'thank you'.
How do Spanish people say "please"?
The most common way to say "please" in Spanish is "por favor." It is used in almost all situations where you would use "please" in English.
How do you casually say thank you in Spanish?
For a casual "thank you," you can use "gracias." If you want to express more gratitude, you can say "muchas gracias," which means "thank you very much."
What is "you're welcome" in Spanish?
The standard way to say "you're welcome" in Spanish is "de nada." It literally translates to "of nothing."
How do you say "thank you very much" in Spanish?
To say "thank you very much" in Spanish, you would say "muchas gracias." This is a common and polite way to express strong gratitude.
