Asking someone for a favor is one of the most common and useful phrases that you can use in Spanish. For that reason, we’ve compiled a list with 8 different expressions that Spanish speakers use when asking for a favor.
In order to help you improve your vocabulary, we’ve included both formal and casual expressions that you can use depending on the situation you’re in. Make sure to read the descriptions so you can choose the best option for you.
By the end of this, you will have different options on how to ask for a favor in Spanish.
1. ¿Te puedo pedir un favor? – Can I ask you for a favor?
When it comes to asking for a favor in Spanish, te puedo pedir un favor is one of the most common and standard ways to do it. Although this phrase is very polite, it’s still appropriate for both casual and formal conversations. If you want to use this phrase with other people, here is the phrase structure that you can use:
¿[Indirect pronoun] + [poder conjugated] + pedir un favor?
Katia, ¿te puedo pedir un favor?
Katia, can I ask you for a favor?
Oye, Charlie, ¿te podemos pedir un favor?
Hey, Charlie, can we ask you for a favor?
Disculpe, señorita, ¿le puedo pedir un favor?
Excuse me, miss, can I ask you for a favor?
Notice that in order to use this expression, you need to make sure to conjugate the verb ‘poder’, but also to match the indirect pronoun with the person you’re asking the favor to. If you want to make this expression more formal, you would use the indirect pronoun ‘le’.
Take Note: If for some reason, you need this expression to be a little bit more formal and polite, you can add the expression si no fuera mucha molestia which means ‘if it’s not too much trouble’.
Señorita, si no fuera mucha molestia, ¿le puedo pedir un favor?
Miss, if it’s not too much trouble, can I ask you for a favor?
2. ¿Me haces un paro? – Can you do me a favor?
¿Me haces un paro? is a very popular and informal expression that some Spanish speakers use to ask for a favor. However, this phrase is only meant to be used in casual and informal situations. As a result, it’s perfectly acceptable to use it among friends and family. ¿Me haces un paro? is especially popular in Mexico, but you can also use it in Guatemala and El Salvador.
¿[Indirect pronoun] + [hacer conjugated] + un paro?
Oigan, ¿nos hacen un paro a Katia y a mí?
Hey, can you guys do Katia and me a favor?
Qué onda, Brenda, ¿me haces un paro, porfa?
What’s up, Brenda, can you do me a favor, please?
Pepe, Claudia necesita ayuda, ¿le haces un paro?
Pepe, Claudia needs help, can you do her a favor?
When using this phrase structure, keep in mind that:
- The indirect pronoun needs to match with the person asking for the favor
- ‘Hacer’ will be conjugated based on the person that will perform the favor
Depending on the Spanish speaking country you are, you may change ‘paro’ for one of the following words:
- El cachetazo / Un cachetito – Honduras, El Salvador
- Una segunda – Venezuela
- La campaña – Guatemala
- Un favor – All Spanish speaking countries
Take Note: ¿Me haces el paro? can also be used as a way to offer your help or to be more specific about the type of help that you need. Additionally, you may hear some variations such as ‘Haz paro’ or ‘Hazme un paro’ which mean ‘do me a favor’ or ‘do me a solid’.
Se ven muy ocupados, ¿les hago un paro?
You look very busy, do you need help?
Oigan, ¿nos pueden hacer un paro con la tarea de español?
Hey, can you help us with the Spanish homework?
3. ¿Me echas la/una mano? – Can you give me a hand?
Echar la mano is another popular Spanish expression that you can use to ask for a favor. ‘¿Me echas una mano’ can be translated as ‘can you give me a hand?’. ‘Echar una mano’ is slightly more informal than ‘¿te puedo pedir un favor’, as a result, it’s mainly used in casual conversations.
¿[Indirect pronoun] + [echar conjugated] + una/la mano?
Mateo, ¿nos echas una mano?
Mateo, can you give us a hand?
Papá, ¿me echas una mano, por favor?
Dad, can you give me a hand, please?
Compa, ¿necesitas que te eche una mano?
Buddy, do you need me to give you a hand?
You can also use ‘¿me echas la mano?’ to give further information about the favor or type of help that you need. However, notice that in this context, the phrase structure will be different:
¿[Indirect pronoun] + [echar conjugated] + una/la mano + con + [info]?
Papá, ¿me echas una mano con el carro?
Dad, can you give me a hand with the car?
Hola, chicas, ¿nos echan una mano con esta encuesta?
Hi, girls, can you give us a hand with this survey?
Take Note: If you conjugate the verb ‘echar’ in the first person (Yo), you will be using this expression to offer your help rather than asking for a favor.
Papá, ¿te echo una mano?
Dad, can I give you a hand?
4. No seas malito – Be nice / Be a lamb
Another popular expression that people use to ask a favor in Spanish is no seas malito/malita. Although its direct translation is ‘don’t be bad’, ‘no seas malito’ or ‘no seas malita’ is an informal and indirect expression that we use to ask for a favor in a softer, nicer and polite way.
‘No seas malito’ or ‘no seas malita’ are quite popular in Latin American Spanish speaking countries and they can be translated as ‘be an angel’, ‘be nice’ or ‘be a lamb’. In order to use this phrase properly, you will need to add the favor that you want people to help you with:
No seas malito + [imperative verb]
No seas malita, ayúdame con mi bolsa
Be an angel and help me with my bag
Joel, no seas malito, lleva estos trastes a la cocina
Joel, be a lamb and take these dishes to the kitchen
Patricia, Martín, no sean malitos y vayan a la tienda por más papas
Patricia, Martin, be nice and go to the store for more chips
Notice that ‘malito’ is an adjective, as a result, you need to use no seas malita when addressing women and ‘no sen malitos’ if talking to a group of people.
Take Note: Even though ‘no seas malito’ works with commands, this expression is very polite and it’s not perceived as demanding or pushy.
5. Necesito un favor – I need a favor
In Spanish, necesito un favor is a more straightforward way to ask people for a favor. As a result, this expression is more commonly used among friends and people that you’re close to. ‘Necesito un favor’ can also be used when talking to a big group of people and asking for a favor to no one in particular (it’s a way to say that you need a favor and see who is willing to help you).
‘Necesito un favor’ is the direct translation of ‘I need a favor’. For some Spanish speakers, this expression is too straightforward and they may replace ‘favor’ with one of the following words in an attempt to soften it:
- Favorzote – big/huge favor
- Favorcito – small favor
[Necesitar conjugated] + un favor
Oye, Joaquín, necesito un favor
Hey, Joaquín, I need a favor
Sebastián, necesita un favor, ¿alguien lo puede ayudar?
Sebastian, needs a favor, can someone help him?
Marissa, necesito un favorzote, pero no te quiero molestar
Marissa, I need a huge favor, but I don’t want to bother you
6. ¿Te puedo pedir algo? – Can I ask you for something?
¿Te puedo pedir algo? is a casual variation of the expression ‘¿te puedo pedir un favor?’. Although this expression is mostly used in casual conversations, it’s still a polite way to ask for a favor in Spanish because you’re giving people the chance to say ‘No’. Here is the phrase structure that you need to use for this case.
¿[Te/Le/Les] + [poder conjugated] + pedir algo?
¿Les puedo pedir algo? No les va a llevar mucho
Can I ask for something, you guys? It won’t take long
Laura, ¿te puedo pedir algo? Ayúdame con mi tarea de español
Laura, can I ask you for something? Help me with my Spanish homework
Sandra, ¿le puedo pedir algo? Es que no sé quién más pueda ayudarme
Sanda, can I ask you for something? I don’t know who else can help me
Take Note: ‘Pedir’ is one of the translations of ‘to ask’. As a result, English speakers may assume that the expression ‘¿te puedo pedir algo?’ is meant to ask questions or for information. However, this phrase talks about the actions that you want people to do for you.
Related Resource: What’s the difference between ‘pedir’ and ‘preguntar’ in Spanish?
7. Te voy a pedir un favor – I’m going to ask for a favor
When asking for a favor in Spanish, you can also use the phrase ‘te voy a pedir un favor’. What you need to keep in mind with this phrase is that if you use the incorrect tone of voice, it can sound too aggressive or demanding. ‘Te voy a pedir un favor’ can be used both in formal and casual conversations.
If you want to use this phrase, you can use it alone or you can add an extra sentence to let people know what you need them to do.
[Indirect pronoun] + [ir conjugated] + a + pedir un favor + (information)
Cindy nos va a pedir un favor, pero no sabemos qué es
Cindy is going to ask us for a favor, but we don’t know what it is
Te voy a pedir un favor: cuando te vayas apaga las luces
I’m going to ask for a favor: when you leave, turn the light off
Chicos, les voy a pedir un favor: no usen el celular en mi clase
Guys, I’m going to ask for a favor: don’t use your phone in my class
Take Note: ‘Te voy a pedir de favor’ is a variation of this expression. However, with this phrase, it’s necessary that you include the activity or favor you need people to do for you.
[Indirect pronoun] + [ir conjugated] + a + pedir de favor + que + (information)
Julieta, te voy a pedir de favor que apagues las luces
Julieta, I’m going to ask you to please turn the lights off
8. Solicito su apoyo – I ask for your support
Solicito su apoyo is an extremely polite way to ask a big group of people for a favor or for help. As a result, unlike other expressions from this list, ‘solicito su apoyo’ is not directed to someone in particular. ‘Solicito su ayuda’ can be translated as ‘I ask for your help’ or ‘I ask for your support’.
Due to its formality and reach, this expression is more suitable for written contexts as well as social media publications. In order to use this phrase correctly, you will need to mention what you need help with:
[Solicito su apoyo] + para + [verb infinitive]
Amigos, solicito su apoyo para vender mi coche
Friends, I ask for your help to sell my car
Solicito su apoyo para completar esta encuesta
I ask for your support to complete this survey
Take Note: Te pido tu ayuda is a slightly less formal variation of ‘solicito su apoyo’. Compared to other phrases from this list ‘te pido tu ayuda’ is a very formal way to ask for a favor or help, as a result, it only works in formal situations. Additionally, this expression needs to work with indirect pronouns.
Wrapping Up
If you’re learning Spanish, at some point, you may need to ask someone for a favor. For that reason, in this list, we compiled some of the most common Spanish expressions that you can use for these situations.
On top of learning expressions, we also discussed the structures that you need to follow in order to use them and the contexts where each one of these phrases is most suitable.
Now, you have many ways to ask for a favor in different Spanish situations
Related Resource: What’s the difference between ‘pedir’ and ‘preguntar’ in Spanish?