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favor

favor?a kind or helpful act
Also:help?assistance,kindness?a good deed

fa-VOR

/faˈβoɾ/
NounmA1
neutral
A person helping another person carry a heavy box up some stairs, illustrating a kind act or favor.

📝 In Action

¿Me puedes hacer un favor?

A1

Can you do me a favor?

Por favor, cierra la puerta.

A1

Please, close the door.

Le debo muchos favores a mi vecina.

B1

I owe my neighbor a lot of favors.

El viento soplaba a nuestro favor.

B2

The wind was blowing in our favor.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • perjuicio (harm, damage)
  • molestia (bother, annoyance)

Common Collocations

  • hacer un favor – to do a favor
  • pedir un favor – to ask for a favor
  • devolver un favor – to return a favor
  • a favor de – in favor of
  • en contra de – against

Idioms & Expressions

  • por favor – The universal way to say 'please'.
  • ¡Hágame el favor! – An expression of disbelief or annoyance, like 'Give me a break!' or 'You've got to be kidding!'.

💡 Grammar Points

The Magic of 'Por Favor'

Always use 'por favor' when asking for something. It's the Spanish equivalent of 'please' and is essential for being polite. You can put it at the beginning or end of a sentence.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Asking for Favors

Mistake: “Using 'preguntar un favor'.”

Correction: Always say 'pedir un favor'. Think of it this way: 'pedir' is for asking *for* things (like a favor or food), while 'preguntar' is for asking *for* information (a question).

⭐ Usage Tips

Showing Support with 'A Favor De'

To say you support or agree with something, use the phrase 'a favor de'. For example, 'Estoy a favor de la idea' means 'I'm in favor of the idea'.

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: favor

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly asks someone to do something for you?

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Word Family

favorable(favorable) - Adjective
favorecer(to favor, to help) - Verb
favorito(favorite) - Adjective / Noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'favor' and 'ayuda'?

They are similar, but 'favor' usually refers to a specific, kind act you ask someone to do ('Can you do me a favor and watch my bag?'). 'Ayuda' is more general help or assistance ('I need help with my homework').

Can 'por favor' mean anything other than 'please'?

While its main job is to mean 'please', in some contexts, it can be used to express frustration, like '¡Por favor! ¡Eso es ridículo!' which means 'Oh, please! That's ridiculous!'