How to Say Please in Different Languages (with pronunciation)

This image shows the word “PLEASE” spelled out using individual cut-out letters, each pinned to a corkboard with colorful push pins. The letters appear to be sourced from different printed textures and styles, creating a collage-like effect. Each letter has its own unique background, ranging from grass textures to bold graphic patterns, adding visual interest and contrast. The corkboard background introduces a warm, tactile element, while the push pins—red, blue, yellow, and white—add pops of color and a casual, handmade feel. The arrangement feels playful yet intentional, emphasizing the importance of polite language while keeping the tone approachable and creative. The image suggests learning, communication, and everyday manners in a friendly, non-institutional way.

Are you planning a trip to another country and want to be able to communicate, even on a basic level. Kick off your journey by learning how to say please in different languages. 

I have to confess, I’m really bad at learning new languages which is even worse because I grew up in Cyprus and Germany. We lived on an Army base and everything around me was in English so I just didn’t need to learn. Plus I was a kid so it wasn’t something I even thought about. 

It’s a massive regret that I didn’t use that experience to become fluent in another language so now I always try to learn some of the language for all of the countries I travel to. 

We get the kids involved in this and do it together as a family. We keep it simple and stick to basic phrases like thank you, hello, goodbye, yes and no or counting 1 – 10.

Being able to speak even a few phrases in their language shows respect and immerses you into the culture you’re visiting. The kids really enjoy getting to speak a different language and it’s a great way to get kids involved in the planning for a trip. We’ve always received a warm welcome from locals, especially when it’s the kids saying bitte or juseyo. 

What’s in this post? 

In this post you can learn how to say please in different languages. From Spanish to Arabic we cover the spelling and pronunciation so you can be totally prepared for your travels.

Did you know that there are more than more than 7000 languages and over half of the world’s population speak just 23 of them? We’ve cut this list down to 12 popular languages to learn according to the 2024 Duolingo Language Report, Babbels article on the 10 most spoken languages in the world, and the most spoken languages worldwide according to Statista. 

If there’s a language on this list you need to learn first you can skip straight there by clicking on that section in the contents below. If you’re just interested in learning different languages, then scroll down to learn how to say please in different languages 

Table Of Contents
  1. What’s in this post? 
  2. Arabic: Law Samaht / Law Samatee
  3. Bengali: Daẏā karē
  4. English: Please
  5. French: S’il Vous Plaît
  6. German: Bitte
  7. Hindi: Kripaya
  8. Italian: Per Favore
  9. Japanese: Onegaishimasu 
  10. Korean: Juseyo
  11. Mandarin Chinese: Qǐng
  12. Portuguese: Por Favor
  13. Spanish: Por Favor
  14. Summary: please in different languages
  15. Read these next …

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This image shows a pale yellow sticky note placed against a soft, light background. Written in black ink on the note is the word “Please,” followed by a small hand-drawn smiley face beneath it. The handwriting is informal and slightly uneven, giving the note a friendly and personal feel. The minimal composition keeps the focus entirely on the message, with no additional objects or distractions in the frame. The smiley face adds warmth and approachability, reinforcing the polite tone of the word. The image conveys kindness, courtesy, and gentle communication, making it suitable for illustrating basic manners, polite requests, or early language learning.

Arabic: Law Samaht / Law Samatee

When saying please in Arabic, one of the most commonly used phrases is “law samaht” if speaking to a male, or “law samahtee” if speaking to a female. 

Arabic is spoken by more than 310 million native speakers, primarily across North Africa and the Middle East, with Modern Standard Arabic being most widely used in writing and formal speech.

How to pronounce law samaht / law amatee: (lau-sam-at) / (lau-sam-at-ee)

Bengali: Daẏā karē

When saying please in Bengali (or Bangla), one of the most commonly used phrases is “daẏā karē”. 

Bengali is spoken by more than 230 million people worldwide, primarily in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. 

How to pronounce daẏā karē: die-ya-ka-ray

English: Please

English is spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. It’s the most widely spoken and recognised language in the world so learning basic phrases in English can be useful in communicating with different people around the world. 

How to pronounce please: pl-ee-s

French: S’il Vous Plaît

When saying please in French, one of the most commonly used phrases is “S’il Vous Plaît” but you can also say s’il te plaît in more informal settings

French is spoken by more than 275 million people worldwide, widely spoken across France, Belgium, Switzerland, parts of Canada, and many countries in Africa. 

How to pronounce s’il vous plaît: sil-vou-play

German: Bitte

When saying please in German, one of the most commonly used phrases is “bitte”. 

German is spoken by more than 95 million people worldwide, primarily in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Belgium and Luxembourg. 

How to pronounce bitte: bit–teh

Hindi: Kripaya

When saying please in Hindi, one of the most commonly used phrases is “kripaya”. 

Hindi is spoken by over 600 million people worldwide, primarily in northern and central India, but due to Bollywood and Indian communities around the world its influence is global.

How to pronounce kripaya: krip-ay-yah

This image shows a person from the shoulders down with their hands pressed together in front of their chest, resembling a gesture of politeness, gratitude, or request. The individual wears a light denim shirt layered over a white top, and a smartwatch with a light-colored band is visible on one wrist. The background is a soft pink, providing a gentle contrast to the clothing. The posture and hand position suggest humility, respect, or asking politely. The absence of the person’s face keeps the focus on body language rather than identity, making the gesture universally relatable. The image visually communicates manners, empathy, and respectful interaction without the need for words.

Italian: Per Favore

When saying please in Italian, one of the most commonly used phrases is “per favore”. You can also say “per piacere”

Italian is spoken by around 67 million people worldwide, primarily in Italy and parts of Switzerland. 

How to pronounce per favore: per-fav-or-ey

Japanese: Onegaishimasu 

In Japanese, a more formal and polite way of saying please is “onegaishimasu”. You can also use “kudasai” as a still polite but more direct way of asking for something

Japanese is spoken by over 125 million people almost exclusively in Japan. Japanese culture places a lot of importance on politeness and respect so if you’re not sure which greeting to use it’s best to observe and follow the lead of how the locals greet each other. 

How to pronounce onegaishimasu: on-egg-ai-shi-mus

Korean: Juseyo

When saying please in Korean, one of the most commonly used phrases is “juseyo”. 

Korean is spoken by more than 77 million people worldwide, mostly spoken across South and North Korea but also in Korean communities around the world. 

How to pronounce juseyo: ju-say-oh

Mandarin Chinese: Qǐng

When saying please in Mandarin, one of the most commonly used phrases is “qǐng”. 

Mandarin is spoken by over 920 million people worldwide. Although it’s primarily spoken in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. and is the most spoken language in the world. 

How to pronounce qǐng: chu-in

Portuguese: Por Favor

When saying please in Portuguese, one of the most commonly used phrases is “por favor”. 

Portuguese is spoken by more than 220 million people worldwide and is mostly spoken in Portugal and Brazil with a few other countries 

How to pronounce por favor: por-fa-vor

Spanish: Por Favor

When saying please in Spanish, one of the most commonly used phrases is “por favor”. You can also use “porfa” as an abbreviated version.

Spanish is spoken by more than 485 million people making it the second most spoken language by native speakers. It’s widely spoken across not only Spain but also South and Central America including Mexico, Argentina and Puerto Rico. 

How to pronounce por favor: por-fa-vor

This image features the word “please” written in a flowing, cursive script across a pale pink background. The lettering is smooth and organic, resembling hand-drawn calligraphy with gentle curves and elongated strokes, particularly noticeable in the tall loop of the letter “p.” The muted green color of the text contrasts softly with the pastel background, creating a calm and inviting visual tone. There are no additional objects or decorations, giving the image a minimalist aesthetic that draws full attention to the word itself. The simplicity of the design emphasizes politeness and softness, reinforcing the emotional tone of courtesy and kindness. The overall composition feels modern, gentle, and uncluttered, making it suitable for themes related to manners, communication, emotional intelligence, or positive language in everyday interactions.

Summary: please in different languages

We find learning even small basic parts of a new language as a family a rewarding experience and as a plus it makes travel more engaging and educational for your kids. 

It doesn’t take much effort but it’s so worth it because it shows respect for the culture in the country you’re visiting.

Saying “please” might seem like a small gesture, but mastering a few local greetings is a small effort that makes a big impact when traveling. 

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