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How to Say Please in 100 Different Languages
Want to know a cool trick to make friends all over the world? Let’s learn how to say ‘please’ in lots of different languages!
Think about this: you’re off on an amazing trip to a place you’ve never been. What’s a smart thing to do? Learn how to say “please”.
I’ve been to more than 29 countries, and trust me, knowing how to say “please” in the local language is a game-changer. It’s like a secret handshake that shows you’re friendly and respectful.
Don’t sweat it if you think you’re not good with languages (I’m right there with ya!). You’d be surprised how easy it is to learn a few key words. Words like “please”, “thank you”, “hello“, and “how are you” are like magic keys that open up cool chats with people no matter where you are. It’s like an instant friend-maker.
Plus, as a Canadian, saying “please” and “sorry” are at the cornerstones of my speech so I’ve gotta be able to say them everywhere!
I’ve made this guide to help you learn how to say “please” in loads of languages. I couldn’t fit in every language (some of them are super tricky to write so we can say them right).
But I’ve got “please” in 100 languages for you. That’s a whole lot of countries you’re ready to explore!
Let’s get this language party started!
How to Say Please in Different Languages
1. English: Please
Where to Say It: Use English to say ‘please’ from Canada, the UK, the United States, to Australia and New Zealand.
How to Pronounce it: pleez
2. French: S’il vous plaît
Where to Say It: French is popular in France, Quebec, most of Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and several other nations.
How to Pronounce it: see-voo-pleh
3. Spanish: Por favor
Where to Say It: Spanish is spoken in Spain, Mexico, most of South and Central America, and is the second most common language in the United States.
How to Pronounce it: por-fa-vor
If you’re planning a trip to Spain and looking to learn even more Spanish, I highly recommend picking up this pocket phrasebook. It is the perfect guide to keep in your pocket/purse and use on the go and it’s affordable!
4. Italian: Per favore
Where to Say It: Use ‘per favore’ when in Italy.
How to Pronounce it: per-fa-vo-re
Learn the top 1000 common Italian phrases with this book to help you get to know locals – and maybe find love in Italy!
5. Portuguese: Por favor
Where to Say It: Portuguese is spoken in Portugal, Brazil, and former colonies like Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Sao Tome, and Macau.
How to Pronounce it: poor-fa-vohr
6. Maori: Koa
Where to Say It: ‘Koa’ is the traditional Maori way of saying ‘please’ in New Zealand.
How to Pronounce it: koh-ah
Maori pronunciations are really complicated. Avoid being laughed at for confusing your “f”s with “wh”s. This book helped me a lot.
7. Australian: Please
Where to Say It: ‘Please’ is used in Australia and New Zealand, just like in English-speaking countries.
How to Pronounce it: pleez
8. Greek: Parakaló (Παρακαλώ)
Where to Say It: You can use ‘parakaló’ to say ‘please’ in Greece and Cyprus.
How to Pronounce it: pah-rah-kah-LOH
9. Serbian: Molim
Where to Say It: ‘Molim’ is used in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Croatia. It’s similar to many other Slavic languages.
How to Pronounce it: MOH-leem
10. Croatian: Molim
Where to Say It: Croatian is best used in Croatia, but is also spoken in some parts of Bosnia and Serbia.
How to Pronounce it: MOH-leem
11. Russian: Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta)
Where to Say It: Say ‘pozhaluysta’ in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and other Eastern European countries.
How to Pronounce it: pah-zha-LOO-sta
12. Mandarin: 请 (Qǐng)
Where to Say It: Mandarin is spoken widely, particularly in China. Time to brush up your Mandarin before visiting! If you’re visiting, you should pick up some books to learn Chinese Madarin before you arrive.
How to Pronounce it: ching
Considering Moving Abroad? Find Out Which Country is Right for You!
13. Cantonese: 唔該 (M̀h’gōi)
Where to Say It: Mainly spoken in Southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
How to Pronounce it: m̀h’gōi
14. Hindi: कृपया (Kripyā)
Where to Say It: Hindi is mainly spoken in Northern India and Nepal, and is recognized in any yoga class worldwide.
How to Pronounce it: kri-pya
15. Japanese: お願いします (Onegaishimasu)
Where to Say It: Use this phrase across Japan.
How to Pronounce it: oh-neh-guy-shi-masu
16. Turkish: Lütfen
Where to Say It: In Turkey, Cyprus, and some parts of Azerbaijan, say ‘lütfen’.
How to Pronounce it: loot-fen
17. Korean: 부탁합니다 (Butakhamnida)
Where to Say It: It’s your go-to phrase in both North and South Korea.
How to Pronounce it: boo-tahk-ham-nee-da
18. Slovak: Prosím
Where to Say It: ‘Prosím’ is the word in Slovakia.
How to Pronounce it: pro-seem
19. German: Bitte
Where to Say It: Use ‘bitte’ in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
How to Pronounce it: BIT-uh
This phrasebook helped me massively when I was trying to shop in Germany.
20. Dutch: Alsjeblieft
Where to Say It: It’s spoken by millions in the Netherlands and northern Belgium.
How to Pronounce it: ahl-ya-bleeft
21. Polish: Proszę
Where to Say It: ‘Proszę’ is used in Poland.
How to Pronounce it: PRO-sheh
22. Thai: กรุณา (Kà-rú-na)
Where to Say It: ‘Kà-rú-na’ is the way to say ‘please’ in Thailand.
How to Pronounce it: kà-rú-na
Want to learn Thai? I recommend this pocket phrasebook that you can easily carry with you. This way you won’t be stranded in a market with no idea how to order dinner – or what you’re ordering!
23. Hungarian: Kérem
Where to Say It: Mainly spoken in Hungary and some parts of the Balkans.
How to Pronounce it: KEY-rem
24. Czech: Prosím
Where to Say It: It’s used in the Czech Republic.
How to Pronounce it: PRO-seem
25. Bengali: অনুগ্রহ করি (Onugroho kori)
Where to Say It: Use this in Bangladesh.
How to Pronounce it: oh-noo-gro-ho koh-ree
26. Urdu: مہربانی (Mehrbani)
Where to Say It: ‘Mehrbani’ is used in Pakistan and it shares similarities with Hindi.
How to Pronounce it: meh-r-ba-nee
27. Persian: لطفاً (Lotfan)
Where to Say It: ‘Lotfan’ is spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Bahrain.
How to Pronounce it: lot-fan
28. Ukrainian: Будь ласка (Bud’ laska)
Where to Say It: Use ‘bud’ laska’ in Ukraine.
How to Pronounce it: bood la-ska
29. Swedish: Snälla
Where to Say It: Say ‘snälla’ in Sweden and the Aland Islands.
How to Pronounce it: snell-a
30. Afrikaans: Asseblief
Where to Say It: Used in South Africa, Namibia, and some parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe.
How to Pronounce it: ah-suh-bleef
31. Romanian: Te rog
Where to Say It: Spoken in Romania and Moldova.
How to Pronounce it: teh rohg
Need help learning a new language? I recommend iTalki! I’ve tried ALL the apps, but iTalki is the only way I’ve managed to learn as much as living in the local country.
32. Hebrew: בבקשה (Bevakasha)
Where to Say It: The official language of Israel and of the Jewish faith.
How to Pronounce it: beh-va-KAH-sha
33. Armenian: խնդրում եմ (Khandrum em)
Where to Say It: Armenia and Armenian Diaspora communities.
How to Pronounce it: khndroom em
34. Arabic: من فضلك (Min fadlak)
Where to Say It: Arabic has many dialects, spoken throughout North Africa and the Middle East.
How to Pronounce it: min fad-lak
35. Punjabi: ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ (Kirpā karakē)
Where to Say It: Punjabi is widely spoken in India and Pakistan.
How to Pronounce it: kri-paa kara-kay
36. Javanese: Monggo
Where to Say It: Javanese is spoken in Java, Indonesia.
How to Pronounce it: mong-go
37. Malay/Indonesian: Tolong
Where to Say It: Used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
How to Pronounce it: to-long
38. Vietnamese: Xin vui lòng
Where to Say It: Spoken primarily in Vietnam.
How to Pronounce it: sin vooi long
39. Basque: Mesedez
Where to Say It: Spoken in the Basque Country, spanning Northern Spain and Southern France.
How to Pronounce it: me-se-dez
40. Bavarian: Bittschön
Where to Say It: Spoken in Bavaria, Germany and parts of Austria.
How to Pronounce it: bit-shurn
41. Tagalog: Pakiusap
Where to Say It: Tagalog is the primary language of the Philippines.
How to Pronounce it: pah-ki-u-sap
42. Swahili: Tafadhali
Where to Say It: Spoken mainly in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. It’s a lingua franca in East Africa.
How to Pronounce it: ta-fa-dha-li
43. Uzbek: Iltimos
Where to Say It: Spoken in Uzbekistan.
How to Pronounce it: il-ti-mos
44. Azerbaijani: Zəhmət olmasa
Where to Say It: Azerbaijan, Northern Iran, Southern Dagestan, Kvemo Kartli in Georgia, Eastern Turkey, and some parts of Iraq.
How to Pronounce it: zah-met ol-ma-sa
45. Kurdish: Ji kerema xwe
Where to Say It: Kurdistan, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria.
How to Pronounce it: gee kere-ma khwe
46. Nepali: कृपया (Kripaya)
Where to Say It: Nepal and parts of India.
How to Pronounce it: kri-paya
47. Haitian Creole: Tanpri
Where to Say It: Spoken in Haiti, along with French.
How to Pronounce it: tan-pree
48. Belarusian: Калі ласка (Kali laska)
Where to Say It: Spoken in Belarus and parts of Russia, Ukraine, and Poland.
How to Pronounce it: kah-lee lah-ska
49. Chichewa: Chonde
Where to Say It: Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe.
How to Pronounce it: cho-nde
50. Fijian: Yalo vinaka
Where to Say It: Native language of Fiji.
How to Pronounce it: yah-lo vee-naka
51. Hawaiian: ‘olu’olu
Where to Say It: Spoken in Hawaii.
How to Pronounce it: oh-loo-oh-loo
52. Samoan: Fa’amolemole
Where to Say It: Samoan Islands.
How to Pronounce it: fah-ah-mole-eh-mole-eh
53. Tongan: Fakamolemole
Where to Say It: Spoken in the Kingdom of Tonga.
How to Pronounce it: fah-kah-mole-eh-mole-eh
54. Yiddish: ביטע (Bite)
Where to Say It: Traditional language of Ashkenazi Jews.
How to Pronounce it: bi-te
55. Welsh: Os gwelwch yn dda
Where to Say It: Spoken in Wales.
How to Pronounce it: os gwel-ooch un tha
56. Norwegian: Vær så snill
Where to Say It: Norway.
How to Pronounce it: ver so snill
57. Lithuanian: Prašau
Where to Say It: Lithuania.
How to Pronounce it: prah-shau
58. Latvian: Lūdzu
Where to Say It: Official language of Latvia.
How to Pronounce it: lood-zoo
59. Icelandic: Vinsamlegast
Where to Say It: Iceland.
How to Pronounce it: vin-sam-leh-gast
60. Scottish Gaelic: Ma ‘se do thoil e
Where to Say It: Scotland.
How to Pronounce it: ma sheh doh hohl eh
61. Irish: Le do thoil
Where to Say It: Ireland.
How to Pronounce it: leh duh hull
62. Estonian: Palun
Where to Say It: Estonia.
How to Pronounce it: pah-lun
63. Bosnian: Molim
Where to Say It: Bosnia.
How to Pronounce it: mo-lim
64. Tibetan: ཞུ་རུང་། (Zhu-rung)
Where to Say It: Tibet.
How to Pronounce it: zhu-rung
65. Lao: ກະລຸນາ (Karuna)
Where to Say It: Laos.
How to Pronounce it: ka-loo-na
66. Georgian: გთხოვთ (gtkhovt)
Where to Say It: Georgia.
How to Pronounce it: gthovt
67. Sesotho: Ka kopo
Where to Say It: Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
How to Pronounce it: ka kopo
68. Esperanto: Bonvolu
Where to Say It: Esperanto is a constructed international auxiliary language.
How to Pronounce it: bon-volu
69. Maltese: Jekk jogħġbok
Where to Say It: Malta.
How to Pronounce it: yek yo-jbok
70. Bahamian: Please
Where to Say It: Bahamas.
How to Pronounce it: pleez
71. Igbo: Biko
Where to Say It: Nigeria.
How to Pronounce it: bee-koh
72. Luxembourgish: Wann ech glift
Where to Say It: Luxembourg.
How to Pronounce it: vahn ehch gleeft
73. Navajo: Tłʼízíhóózinii
Where to Say It: Southwestern United States.
How to Pronounce it: tłʼí-zí-hóó-zinii
74. Swiss German: Bitte
Where to Say It: Spoken in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, parts of Germany, and Alsace, France.
How to Pronounce it: bi-tte
75. Tahitian: ‘Ua here au ia ‘oe
Where to Say It: French Polynesia.
How to Pronounce it: oo-ah hereh au i-ah oe
76. Albanian: Ju lutem
Where to Say It: Predominant language of Albania and Kosovo, and also found in other regions of the Balkans.
How to Pronounce it: yoo loo-tem
77. Catalan: Si us plau
Where to Say It: Andorra, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands in Spain.
How to Pronounce it: see oos plau
78. Galician: Por favor
Where to Say It: Northwestern Spain.
How to Pronounce it: por fa-vor
79. Mongolian: Зүгээр л (Zügeer l)
Where to Say It: Mongolia, parts of Russia, and parts of Kyrgyzstan.
How to Pronounce it: zu-geer l
80. Wolof: Jëfëñ
Where to Say It: Senegal.
How to Pronounce it: jefen
81. Wu (Shanghainese): 请 (Qǐng)
Where to Say It: Shanghai and surrounding areas.
How to Pronounce it: ching
82. Tamil: தயவு செய்து (Dayavu seythu)
Where to Say It: Southern India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore.
How to Pronounce it: tha-yavu sey-thu
83. Pashto: مهربانی (Mehrabani)
Where to Say It: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
How to Pronounce it: mehrabani
84 Kannada: Dayavittu
Where to Say It: Southwestern India.
How to Pronounce it: da-ya-vit-tu
85. Hausa: Don Allah
Where to Say It: Niger, Northern Nigeria and parts of West and Central Africa.
How to Pronounce it: don al-lah
86. Burmese: ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် (Kyay zu tin par te)
Where to Say It: Myanmar.
How to Pronounce it: chay-zu-tin-par-te
87. Amharic: እባክህ (Ibakih)
Where to Say It: Ethiopia, Egypt, and Eritrea.
How to Pronounce it: ee-bah-kee
88. Breton: Mar plij
Where to Say It: Brittany, Northwest of France.
How to Pronounce it: mar plee
89. Oromo: Dhugaa
Where to Say It: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Egypt.
How to Pronounce it: dhoo-gaa
90. Manipuri: Chaoba
Where to Say It: Manipur in India.
How to Pronounce it: chao-ba
91. Cebuano: Palihog
Where to Say It: The Philippines.
How to Pronounce it: pah-lee-hog
92. Malagasy: Azafady
Where to Say It: Madagascar.
How to Pronounce it: aza-fady
93. Santali: Daya
Where to Say It: West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Orissa in India.
How to Pronounce it: da-ya
94. Khmer: សូម (Suom)
Where to Say It: Cambodia.
How to Pronounce it: suom
95. Sinhalese: කරුණාකර (Karunakara)
Where to Say It: Sri Lanka.
How to Pronounce it: kah-roo-nah-kara
96. Somali: Fadlan
Where to Say It: Somalia.
How to Pronounce it: fad-lan
97. Taiwanese Hokkien: Chhiáⁿ (請)
Where to Say It: Taiwan.
How to Pronounce it: chiang
98. Tswana: Ka kopo
Where to Say It: Botswana and South Africa.
How to Pronounce it: ka kopo
99. Quechua: Allichu
Where to Say It: Peru.
How to Pronounce it: a-lee-choo
100. Xhosa: Nceda
Where to Say It: South Africa.
How to Pronounce it: n-ce-da
Conclusion: How to Say Please in Many Languages
You’re now able to be extra polite to over 70% of the people on this awesome planet! That’s like adding a shiny new badge to your world-traveler backpack.
It’s time to strap on your adventure boots and start your solo travel journey on the best note possible – with the superpower of connecting with people from all corners of the world.
Okay, I won’t fib, I don’t know how to say please in every single language.
But these 100? They’ve been my secret sauce to making friends from all over the globe. From chatting with local ladies in Morocco to sharing meals with my host family in Austria.
I wouldn’t have been able to connect with locals the same way without knowing this simple word – as well as a few others. But “please” + charades will also get you very far!
Want to level up your language game? Check out iTalki! iTalki is your prep station for living abroad in any country, as it helps you learn the language just like a local.
Link up with real folks who can’t wait to help you learn a new language, just like you would if you were actually living in their country. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get chatting, pals!
Need help learning a new language? I recommend iTalki! I’ve tried ALL the apps, but iTalki is the only way I’ve managed to learn as much as living in the local country.
Read More About Languages Abroad
- How to Say Hello in 100 Different Languages
- How to Say Yes and No in 100 Different Languages
- How to Say How Are You in 100 Different Languages
- How to Say Goodbye in 100 Different Languages
- How to Say Thank You in 100 Different Languages
- How to Say Cheers in 100 Different Languages + Pronunciation
- How to Say I Love You in 100 Different Languages
- New Zealand Slang: From Sweet As to Swear Words
- Guide to 100+ Canadian Slang: Unique Canadian Sayings and Phrases You Need to Know
- How to Say Water in 100 Different Languages + Pronunciations
- How to Say Please in 100 Different Languages
Living Abroad Travel Planning Guide
🚑 Should I buy expat travel insurance?
100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $5-10 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Safety Wing!
🌎 What is the best country to live in as an expat?
It depends – the best country to live in as an expat will depend on your unique needs. I developed this free quiz to help you figure out where is right for you!
📍 How do I pick a country to live abroad?
It depends – picking a country to live in is hard. That’s why I developed this $7 course to share all of the steps I’ve taken when deciding to move to 20+ different countries, and how I handle homesickness when I get there.
Ultimately, making the choice of where to move is going to be hard. But the hardest thing is deciding to move abroad at all!
💼 How do I get a job as an expat?
You can find work abroad via local job boards or temp agencies. My favourite way to work is remotely, so I always look for jobs on FlexJobs.com when I live abroad. They hire for 100% remote roles only.
If you’re looking to teach English abroad, Premier TEFL has the best online course to get you great work!
💰 How do I open a bank account abroad?
Wise.com offers free global accounts, and the cheapest money transfers. Since it can be a headache to open bank accounts in different countries (it took me 2 months in the UK!), Wise.com is a great solution.
I actually use it as my primary bank now worldwide due to the multi-currency debit card. (Read more)
👯♀️ How do you make friends abroad?
Meetup.com – Meet likeminded people who share a similar hobby with Meetup! It’s free to join, but some activities may cost money, like if you go to a cafe and get a coffee.
🙀 I don’t speak the language. Can I still live abroad?
Learn languages in no time with iTalki! Moving abroad is an opportunity to learn the language. You don’t need to know it before you leave home.
💻 Do I need a VPN?
Yes! – VPNs allow you to access more of the internet. From US Netflix in the UK to social media sites banned in Asia. It’s a really helpful and cheap thing to ensure your online activities aren’t restricted.
🧳 What’s the best luggage for living abroad?
This is my favourite luggage set for long term travel. You can read more about my review of types of suitcases for travel here.
🏡 How do I tell my friends and family I want to live abroad?
Take this $7 course and learn the exact script I used to tell my family I was moving abroad … and then when I did it again. I even include tips for prepping your family, and for how to handle family who aren’t supportive.
✈️ What’s the best site to buy cheap flights?
To find cheap flights, I recommend Skyscanner. (Read more)
🏨 What’s the best site to find cheap hotels?
To find cheap hotels, I recommend Booking.com. (Read more)
Or stay for free with Trusted Housesitters!
🚗 What’s the best site to rent cars abroad?
To find cheap rental cars, I recommend Discover Cars.
🚗 What’s the best site to find tours?
To find epic tours, I recommend Viator.
