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How to Say ‘More slowly, please’ in Portuguese

Mais devagar, por favor

mysh deh-vah-GAR pohr fah-vor

[mysh deh-vah-GAR pohr fah-vor]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: European Portuguese is spoken fast and swallows vowels, so locals expect learners to ask this, and most will gladly slow down.

Phrase Breakdown

Mais devagar,

mysh deh-vah-GAR

More slowly,

'Mais' means 'more' and sounds like 'mysh'. 'Devagar' means 'slowly' and sounds like 'duh-vuh-GAR'.

Example

Fale mais devagar.

Speak more slowly.

Words in this phrase

Mais

[mysh]

Used to ask for additional information or greater quantity.

Example

Quero saber mais antes de me candidatar.

I want to know more before applying.

devagar

[deh-vah-GAR]

slowly

Adverb meaning at a slow pace.

Example

Fale devagar, por favor.

Speak slowly, please.

por favor

pohr fah-vor

please

This is the polite word 'please'. Say 'poor fuh-VOHR'.

Example

Entre, por favor.

Come in, please.

Words in this phrase

por

[pohr]

please

Used to make a request more polite.

Example

Perguntei, 'por favor', sobre a disponibilidade.

I asked, 'please', about the availability.

favor

[fah-vor]

please

A polite expression used when making a request.

Example

A conta, por favor, já foi pedida.

The bill, please, has already been requested.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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