"After you"

Question

Yesterday, I went to a Latin American market nearby that serves hot food as well. Not only is the food great, but hardly any English is spoken, so I get real-world practice. Anyway, I got to the line at the same time as another man, and I did not know how to say "After you" or "You first." I did say, "Usted primero, por favor" and it worked, but I'm wondering if there is a more common way to say it. The translator gives me "despues de ti" or "despues de usted" for "after you." It gives me "usted primero" or "lo primero" for "you first." Any advice, especially from native Spanish speakers?

By the way, rac1, you should go to this place. It's called Ideal Discount Market. There's one in Metairie, one on Broad Street in the city, and one on the West Bank.

Good question :) - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 17, 2014

I'll go check it out...the one in Metairie first. :):) - rac1, Dec 17, 2014

Creo que "usted primero" es una fórmula que no falla nunca. Siempre me ha gustado, sobre todo cuando se lo dice un hombre a una mujer... ¡Además de muy educado, me suena encantador! - Clío, Dec 17, 2014

Après vous! :) - Daniela2041, Dec 18, 2014

Answer 1

Just say ' pase'.

It can be re-inforced by a handmovement or a headmovement, of course. - annierats, Dec 17, 2014

Thanks, Annie. That's a good one. I did use hand movements, and it looked like a comedy - we were both just waving the other on until I said "ustedd primero." - Winkfish, Dec 17, 2014

Ten thousand ways to say the same thing, but only one way to say "you first" or "after you", don;t you think. ;) - chileno, Dec 17, 2014

Hehe. Thanks, Chileno. If it's one thing I've learned in my many years, it's that there's never just one way to say anything!! ;-) - Winkfish, Dec 17, 2014

I agree that "pase ud." is the most common of these suggestions even though the others would be understood. In Mexico we just say "Pásele" - 005faa61, Dec 17, 2014

Julian yours is what i hear most frequently - pacofinkler, Dec 18, 2014

Actually, people just used to push past me without a word, that is the truth, the Spanish are not such patient queuers as the British. - annierats, Dec 18, 2014

Answer 2

You can either say: Después de Ud (Polite form) o Después de ti (familiar form) I have used this form in Spain.

Annie's answer is correct, too: pase, pase

I have just read Clío's comments and I am sure that this is also correct. She is a native so I am sure that she knows what she is talking about

I hope this helps

Answer 3

Despues de ti or Ud. is correct

Follow this SD link and read the fourth point

http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/after

Thanks, but I don't see a link. Would it be "de" or "di"? - Winkfish, Dec 17, 2014

Sorry, I just added the link and corrected the typo .. it is "de" hehe - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 17, 2014

Thanks for the link. Looks like that just about covers it, unless there are some idioms out there. ;-) - Winkfish, Dec 17, 2014

Yes idioms are the mystical dimension in Spanish that scare me the most :) - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 17, 2014

You could also say .. Ud. pase primero por favor .. but that would be more suitable to "giving way to someone" for example into a bus or a theater etc. - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 17, 2014

Joydeep, they say ' Pase, pase..' it means , you go on , go ahead.. - annierats, Dec 17, 2014

OK, Annie :) .. Pase could also mean .. come in .. - Joydeep_Singh, Dec 17, 2014

Answer 4

Also, "adelante", "pase adelante" or the already stated "pase".