Speak like a local: Se faz favor

You are sitting at an outdoor table with empty coffee cups scattered in front of you. The waiter walks past with a tray full of empty plates. You catch his eye and raise your hand just a fraction to ask for the bill. You say 'se faz favor' to get his attention before he disappears back inside.

What it means

The literal translation of 'se faz favor' is 'if you do a favour'. It means please. Portuguese people use this phrase to soften a request so they do not sound demanding. It works perfectly to flag down a busy waiter. It smooths out social interactions and shows respect for the other person's time.

Who you can say it to

You can use this phrase with almost anyone in daily life. If you ask a friend to pass the water at dinner, you say it casually to ask politely. If you need a stranger to move their bag on the train, you say it to excuse yourself without causing offence.

When speaking to an older person, this expression shows good manners. If you are writing an official letter to the tax office, this phrase sounds too conversational. You should write 'por favor' instead for stiff professional writing.

Words it travels with

This expression travels constantly with verbs for looking and speaking. People say 'olhe, se faz favor' to get someone to look their way before asking a question. Waiters use it with the verb 'dizer' when they approach your table.

They will say 'diga, se faz favor' to invite you to speak your order. To add extra stress to a polite command, Portuguese people add the word 'cá'. Saying 'venha cá, se faz favor' tells the person to come over to exactly where you are standing.

More ways to be polite

If you are writing a formal email or speaking in a highly serious setting, use this standard option.

• ✉️ Por favor. (Please.)

If you want to offer someone a seat or tell them to go ahead of you through a door, give them the floor.

• 🚪 Faça favor. (Go ahead / Be my guest.)

A detail most foreigners miss is that Portuguese people often blur these words together into one quick sound. When you listen closely at a busy café, you will just hear people saying 'faza-vôr' to the staff.