Por favor and please
I teach English and I have many Spanish students. I have noticed that many of them don't use the word 'please' where we would in English. Would you like a cup of tea? 'Yes'. To English ears, this sounds impolite. 'But in Spanish we don't say ' por favor' in that situation'. I appreciate it is not easy but Spanish speakers should accept that the rules of English are not the same as the rules for Spanish. I have a similar problem when I am in Spain. I feel uncomfortable NOT saying 'por favor'. I guess this makes me sound a bit silly, but I would rather be a bit silly than rude. I'm sure that as my Spanish improves I will feel fine about not using 'por favor'. I hope that until that time, Spanish speakers will excuse me, por favor.
Edit: Post your website on the profile if you wish.
3 Answers
Actually, we do say it, but mostly the other way round.
¿Quieres una coca-cola?
Sí, gracias.
We do not say por favor in this context.
Strange, I guess I have not had as much immersion as you have with native spanish speakers, as I always found the opposite to be true. e.g. always been taught a seemingly overuse of por favor... Maybe that's just what they teach beginners like me so it just seems like they use it alot.
Are you saying that "Please" is never used? I have noticed this often and put it down to poor manners. I have also heard educated people respond "Si, por favor" many times.
