Polite Requests in Brazilian Portuguese: Por Favor, Pode, and Poderia
Ask for help, repetition, or a service in a direct but considerate way that fits the relationship and setting.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Por favor means please and can soften a direct request: Pode repetir, por favor? (Could you repeat, please?). It can appear at the beginning or end, and intonation also affects how the phrase feels. A polite phrase is clearest when you name the action you need rather than relying only on a smile or gesture.
Add por favor to a clear request
In Brazilian Portuguese, a concise request can be friendly, especially when paired with com licença or bom dia. You do not need to add several politeness words to every sentence. Choose a greeting and one clear softener that fit the situation.
Um copo de água, por favor.
A glass of water, please.
Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
Could you speak more slowly, please?
Com licença, você pode me ajudar?
Excuse me, can you help me?
Use pode for a common everyday request
Você pode + infinitive is a common way to ask whether someone can do something: Você pode abrir a janela? (Can you open the window?). In a service setting, Pode trazer a conta? is also widely understood. The form can be direct but polite with an appropriate tone and por favor when useful.
The verb poder is irregular. Learn high-frequency requests as full phrases: pode ajudar, pode repetir, pode trazer, pode escrever. This gives you useful language without building every request from a grammar chart.
Você pode fechar a porta?
Can you close the door?
Pode escrever o endereço para mim?
Could you write the address for me?
Você pode esperar um instante?
Can you wait a moment?
Choose poderia for a more tentative request
Poderia + infinitive often sounds more tentative or formal: Poderia me ajudar? (Could you help me?). It is useful when speaking with someone you do not know or making a request that might inconvenience them. It is not required in every polite situation; pode is common and can sound perfectly considerate.
For a group or a formal conversation, observe how the other person speaks and choose a consistent level of formality. A greeting, please, and a clear request often matter more than choosing the most formal verb form.
Poderia confirmar o horário da reunião?
Could you confirm the meeting time?
A senhora poderia repetir seu sobrenome?
Could you repeat your last name? (formal)
Você poderia me indicar uma farmácia?
Could you point me to a pharmacy?
Adapt the request to the relationship and need
Use a familiar request with friends, a neutral phrase with staff, and a more tentative form when the setting calls for it. If a request is important, state exactly what you need and why. If you do not understand the response, ask a follow-up question rather than repeating the same sentence more loudly.
Practice these patterns with Real Life Portuguese guides to directions, restaurants, and phone calls. I Speak Portuguese lessons let you compare a request with a Brazilian teacher and adjust the tone. Focus on clarity and kindness rather than trying to sound maximally formal in every interaction.
Oi, pode me mandar o endereço?
Hi, can you send me the address? (casual)
Bom dia. Poderia me informar o horário de funcionamento?
Good morning. Could you tell me the opening hours? (more formal)
Pode mostrar no mapa, por favor?
Could you show me on the map, please?
Put it into practice
Use pode for common requests, poderia for a more tentative tone, and por favor when it helps. A clear action and considerate delivery make the request easy to answer.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “A glass of water, please”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.