Can "por favor" be one word, or does it have to be two?

Question

I just wanted to claify this, because I've seen "por favor" as one word, but I've also seen it as two. ¡Le doy gracias por su ayuda!

Answer 1

Por favor is two words Por, and favor. Example: Favor to close the door is: Have the kindness to close the door. Por favor, close the door. For the favor, close the door. That might be confusing, but that's the best way I know to explain it.

Answer 2

I don't believe that it would be proper Spanish to write these as one word.

also...

Yo doy gracias para su ayuda

I think that you should probably be using por rather than para since you are not giving thanks to the help itself but instead to the person because of the help that you have received.

• Thanks! I was looking over my Spanish papers from last year, and you're right. It is "le doy gracias por su ayuda" It can also be "Le agradezco por su ayuda." - june10 Sep 23, 2009

Answer 3

I've only seen it as one word, but I;m only saying that because I don't see that word a lot. It's usually only spoken.

Answer 4

Check the dictionary.

• miloszdom-This reply coming after two fuller answers is not helpful to June10. - Moe Sep 23, 2009
• Check the dictionary how? Under "por"? Under "Favor"? Under "porfavor"? - Moe Sep 23, 2009

Answer 5

Actually, it would be Yo les doy...or Yo le doy gracias a su ayuda. That's what I'd say...don't know if it's correct, but if someone said it to me, I'd understand it. Yo doy gracias just kinda goes out into space, undirected. The verb has to "go" somewhere, be directed "at" something, someone, etc.

• Hi John...thanks, I missed that one completely focussing on the por/para subtlety. I would personally just say "gracias por ayudarme" as the "le/te doy" is implied by this already. - Izanoni1 Sep 23, 2009