3 phrases · audio

Per Favore, Per Piacere, Gentilmente: How to Say 'Please' in Italian

Q: Is one more polite than the other?

No, per favore and per piacere carry the same level of politeness in most everyday situations. Don't worry about choosing the 'most' polite one; just pick whichever feels more natural to you and use it consistently.

Q: When should I use gentilmente instead?

Use gentilmente when you want to add a slightly more formal or 'kindly' nuance to your request, especially if it involves a specific action or a written instruction. For simple requests like ordering food, per favore or per piacere are perfect.

When you want to ask for something politely in Italian, you'll most often reach for one of two phrases: per favore or per piacere.

Both per favore and per piacere mean 'please' and are largely interchangeable in everyday conversation. You can use either when making a request, ordering food, or asking for help. A third, gentilmente, is more formal and used for specific requests.

The short version

Per favorePlease (most common, versatile)
Per piacerePlease (also very common, interchangeable with per favore)
GentilmenteKindly (more formal, for specific requests)

What's the difference between per favore and per piacere?

Not much, for a beginner!

For most situations, especially when you're just starting out, you can use per favore and per piacere interchangeably. They both convey politeness and a request. Think of them like saying 'please' or 'if you please' in English – the meaning is the same. I've lived here for years, and I use both without thinking about it.

Un caffè, per favore.

/un kafˈfɛ per faˈvore/

A coffee, please.

Il conto, per piacere.

/il ˈkonto per pjaˈtʃere/

The bill, please.

Puoi aiutarmi, per favore?

/ˈpwɔi ajuˈtarmi per faˈvore/

Can you help me, please?

YouScusi, un cappuccino, per favore.Excuse me, a cappuccino, please.
BaristaCerto! Al banco o al tavolo?Certainly! At the counter or at the table?
YouAl banco, per piacere.At the counter, please.

When to use 'kindly'

Gentilmente (kindly) is a bit more formal and often implies a specific, perhaps slightly more involved, request. You'll hear it more in official contexts, customer service, or when asking someone to do something specific for you, like 'Could you kindly close the door?'

For example, a sign might say: Chiudere la porta gentilmente (Kindly close the door). Or a hotel receptionist might say: Potrebbe compilare questo modulo, gentilmente? (Could you kindly fill out this form?). It adds a layer of formal courtesy.

Prego. → Per favore / Per piacere. Prego means 'you're welcome' or 'go ahead', not 'please'. It's a common mix-up!
Per favore, per favore. → Just one 'per favore' or 'per piacere' is enough. Repeating 'please' like this sounds unnatural and a bit desperate in Italian.

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A simple 'per favore' can open so many doors.

Can I just say 'favore' or 'piacere'?

While you might hear Italians shorten these in very casual, familiar settings, it's best to use the full per favore or per piacere to ensure you're always polite and clear. As a learner, stick to the full phrase.

Is one more polite than the other?

No, per favore and per piacere carry the same level of politeness in most everyday situations. Don't worry about choosing the 'most' polite one; just pick whichever feels more natural to you and use it consistently.

When should I use *gentilmente* instead?

Use gentilmente when you want to add a slightly more formal or 'kindly' nuance to your request, especially if it involves a specific action or a written instruction. For simple requests like ordering food, per favore or per piacere are perfect.

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