usage.requests-direct
Direct requests: imperatives done politely
Imperative + por favor is normal and not rude among peers: pasame la sal, por favor. Soften with diminutives, nomás, or porfa.
usageA2✓ Reviewedv0.1.0
Explanation
Spanish tolerates direct imperatives where English hedges: mandame la dirección, decime cuándo. Politeness rides on tone, por favor, and closeness.
Softeners: porfa/porfis (casual please), un favorcito, nomás ('just go ahead': pase nomás), ¿sí? tagged at the end. With strangers or officials, switch to the podría register.
Spanish tolerates bare imperatives where English hedges (pasame la sal, mandame la dirección) and politeness rides on tone, por favor, and closeness rather than grammar. Soften with diminutives (un favorcito), porfa, or nomás (pase nomás = 'go right ahead'); with strangers or officials, climb to the ¿podría…? register instead.
Examples
Send me your number, please.
Region: global
Just have a seat.
Region: global
Pass me the salt, please. (Here.) Thanks.
Region: global