Lesson 6 — Be Polite and Ask for Help in Spanish
Small words can completely change how a message sounds. In a shop, at work, on public transport or in someone’s home, a request may sound friendly or too direct depending on the words you use. In this lesson, you will learn how to ask for help, say thank you, apologise and respond politely in everyday Spanish.
Useful Words and Phrases for Polite Communication
Listen and repeat each phrase three times.
Please
🔊 Por favor.
Use por favor when asking someone to do something or give you something.
It makes a request sound more polite.
Example:
🔊 Más despacio, por favor.
You can place por favor at the beginning or at the end of a request.
🔊 Por favor, repita.
🔊 Repita, por favor.
Both are correct.
Thank you
🔊 Gracias.
Use gracias when someone helps you, gives you something or answers your question.
Example:
— Aquí tiene su documento.
— Gracias.
Thank you very much
🔊 Muchas gracias.
Use muchas gracias when you want to express stronger or warmer thanks.
Example:
— Le ayudo con la bolsa.
— Muchas gracias.
You’re welcome
🔊 De nada.
Use de nada after someone says gracias or muchas gracias.
Example:
— Muchas gracias.
— De nada.
Sorry / Excuse me
🔊 Perdón.
Use perdón when you make a small mistake, interrupt someone or need to get their attention.
Example:
🔊 Perdón, ¿puede repetir?
You can also use it if you accidentally touch or bump into someone.
Excuse me
🔊 Disculpe.
Use disculpe to get someone’s attention politely or before asking a question.
It is especially useful with people you do not know.
Example:
🔊 Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
Disculpe sounds polite and appropriate in shops, offices, medical centres and public places.
I’m sorry
🔊 Lo siento.
Use lo siento when you feel sorry about a mistake, problem or difficult situation.
Example:
🔊 Lo siento, llego tarde.
It usually expresses more regret than perdón.
It’s all right / No problem
🔊 No pasa nada.
Use no pasa nada to tell someone that a small mistake or problem is not serious.
Example:
— Lo siento.
— No pasa nada.
This is a very common expression in Spain.
Excuse me / May I pass?
🔊 Con permiso.
Use con permiso when you need to pass between people, enter a room or move through a narrow space.
Example:
🔊 Con permiso.
It is polite to say this before moving past someone.
Can you help me, please?
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
Use this polite question when you need help.
It is useful in many situations:
- In a shop.
- At a station.
- At work.
- At a medical centre.
- In an office.
- On the street.
Example:
🔊 Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
This complete expression sounds polite, clear and natural.
Combine the Expressions
Polite communication often uses more than one expression.
To ask for help
🔊 Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
To ask someone to repeat
🔊 Perdón, ¿puede repetir, por favor?
To thank someone
🔊 Muchas gracias.
To respond to thanks
🔊 De nada.
To apologise
🔊 Lo siento.
To respond to an apology
🔊 No pasa nada.
To pass between people
🔊 Con permiso.
These short combinations are useful because they sound more natural than using one isolated word.
Asking Politely Instead of Giving an Order
The way you speak can change how another person understands your intention.
Compare these two examples:
🔊 Ayúdeme.
Help me.
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
The first sentence is an instruction or command. It may be correct in an emergency, but in an ordinary situation it can sound too direct.
The second sentence is a polite request. It sounds more respectful and is usually better when speaking to someone you do not know.
Compare:
🔊 Repita.
Repeat.
🔊 ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Can you repeat, please?
Compare:
🔊 Escriba esto.
Write this.
🔊 ¿Puede escribirlo, por favor?
Can you write it, please?
For everyday communication, use a polite question when possible.
A useful pattern is:
Disculpe + polite question + por favor
Example:
🔊 Disculpe, ¿puede ayudarme, por favor?
You do not need to use every polite word in every sentence, but this structure is very useful when asking a stranger for help.
When to Use Each Expression
Use “por favor” when:
- Asking for help.
- Asking someone to repeat.
- Asking for an object.
- Giving a polite instruction.
Use “gracias” or “muchas gracias” when:
- Someone helps you.
- Someone gives you information.
- Someone gives you an object.
- Someone waits for you.
Use “perdón” when:
- You interrupt someone.
- You make a small mistake.
- You do not hear clearly.
- You accidentally touch someone.
Use “disculpe” when:
- You want to get someone’s attention.
- You want to ask a stranger a question.
- You are speaking in a formal or public situation.
Use “lo siento” when:
- You arrive late.
- You cause a problem.
- You cannot do something you promised.
- You want to express sincere regret.
Use “no pasa nada” when:
- Someone makes a small mistake.
- Someone apologises.
- You want to reassure the other person.
Use “con permiso” when:
- You need to pass.
- You want to enter.
- You need to move between people.
Short Practice
(H5P — Quiz aquí)
Recommended activity: Question Set with multiple choice, matching and fill-in-the-blank questions.
Settings:
- Allow the student to retry.
- Show the correct answer.
- Use only expressions already taught in the lesson.
Questions
1. You need help in a shop. What is the most polite option?
a. Ayúdeme.
b. ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
c. Gracias.
Correct answer: b. ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
2. Someone gives you the information you need. What do you say?
a. Perdón.
b. Gracias.
c. Con permiso.
Correct answer: b. Gracias.
3. Someone says “Gracias”. How can you respond?
a. De nada.
b. Lo siento.
c. Por favor.
Correct answer: a. De nada.
4. You accidentally bump into someone. What can you say?
a. Perdón.
b. Muchas gracias.
c. No pasa nada.
Correct answer: a. Perdón.
5. Someone apologises for a small mistake. What can you say?
a. Disculpe.
b. No pasa nada.
c. Con permiso.
Correct answer: b. No pasa nada.
6. You need to pass between two people. What do you say?
a. Con permiso.
b. Muchas gracias.
c. De nada.
Correct answer: a. Con permiso.
7. Complete the polite request:
¿Me ayuda, __________?
Correct answer: por favor
8. Complete the exchange:
— Muchas gracias.
— __________.
Correct answer: De nada
9. Match each situation with the correct expression:
- Ask politely → Por favor
- Express thanks → Gracias
- Respond to thanks → De nada
- Apologise sincerely → Lo siento
- Reassure someone → No pasa nada
- Pass between people → Con permiso
10. Which sentence sounds more polite?
a. Repita.
b. ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Correct answer: b. ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Listen to the Dialogue
First Listening
Listen without reading.
Try to identify:
- How the first person gets someone’s attention.
- How the person asks for help.
- How the person expresses thanks.
- How the other person responds.
Dialogue
— Disculpe.
— Sí, dígame.
— ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
— Claro. ¿Qué necesita?
— No encuentro esta dirección.
— Está al final de la calle, a la derecha.
— Muchas gracias.
— De nada.
— Perdón, ¿puede repetir?
— Sí. Al final de la calle, a la derecha.
— Gracias.
— De nada.
Listen Again
Listen while reading the dialogue.
Then repeat both parts aloud.
Pay attention to the polite tone of voice.
Comprehension Questions
1. What expression does the person use to get attention?
The person says Disculpe.
2. How does the person ask for help?
The person says ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
3. How does the other person respond to thanks?
The other person says De nada.
Real-Life Situation
You are in a supermarket, station, office or medical centre. You need help, but the person is busy.
First, get the person’s attention politely.
Then ask for help.
After receiving the answer, say thank you.
Respond aloud before looking at the example.
Possible Response
🔊 Disculpe.
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
The person helps you.
🔊 Muchas gracias.
The person responds:
🔊 De nada.
Now imagine that you do not understand the explanation.
Ask politely:
🔊 Perdón, ¿puede repetir, por favor?
A Polite Situation at Work
You are working in a home and need help finding a cleaning product.
Do not give a direct order.
Ask politely.
Possible question:
🔊 Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
You can also say:
🔊 Perdón, ¿puede enseñarme dónde está?
After receiving help, say:
🔊 Muchas gracias.
If you make a mistake, say:
🔊 Lo siento.
The other person may answer:
🔊 No pasa nada.
Short Writing Activity
Write a short polite conversation of four lines.
Include:
- A polite way to get attention.
- A request for help.
- An expression of thanks.
- A response to thanks.
Use this model only as a guide:
— Disculpe.
— ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
— Muchas gracias.
— De nada.
Now create your own version for one of these situations:
- A supermarket.
- A station.
- A medical centre.
- A workplace.
- A public office.
Final Challenge
Answer without looking at the expressions above.
Situation 1
You want to ask a stranger for help.
What do you say?
Situation 2
Someone helps you.
What do you say?
Situation 3
Someone says “Muchas gracias”.
How do you respond?
Situation 4
You make a small mistake.
What can you say?
Situation 5
Someone apologises for a small problem.
How can you reassure them?
Situation 6
You need to pass between two people.
What do you say?
Possible Answers
- Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
- Gracias or Muchas gracias.
- De nada.
- Perdón or Lo siento.
- No pasa nada.
- Con permiso.
Basic Grammar Applied to This Lesson
The grammar in this lesson helps you transform short commands into polite requests. The goal is not to memorise long rules, but to recognise a few useful patterns that you can use in many real situations.
1. “Por Favor” Makes a Request More Polite
🔊 Por favor
The expression por favor means “please”.
You can place it at the beginning or at the end of a request.
🔊 Por favor, repita.
Please repeat.
🔊 Repita, por favor.
Repeat, please.
Both positions are correct.
At the beginning, por favor prepares the listener for the request.
At the end, it softens the request after the main information.
You can also use it inside a question:
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
A Practical Difference
Compare:
🔊 Ayúdeme.
Help me.
🔊 Ayúdeme, por favor.
Help me, please.
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
All three sentences can be understood, but the final question normally sounds the most polite in an everyday situation.
The command may be useful when:
- There is an emergency.
- You need to give a clear instruction.
- The situation requires immediate action.
The polite question is usually better when:
- You are asking a stranger.
- You need help in a shop or office.
- You are speaking to an employer.
- You are asking someone to repeat or explain something.
2. Polite Questions with “¿Puede…?” and “¿Me…?”
Two useful structures appear in polite requests.
Structure A: “¿Puede + infinitive?”
🔊 ¿Puede repetir?
Can you repeat?
🔊 ¿Puede escribirlo?
Can you write it?
🔊 ¿Puede ayudarme?
Can you help me?
The structure is:
¿Puede + infinitive?
After puede, use the infinitive form:
- repetir
- escribir
- ayudar
Correct:
¿Puede repetir?
Incorrect:
¿Puede repite?
Adding por favor makes the request even more polite:
🔊 ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
Structure B: “¿Me + verb?”
🔊 ¿Me ayuda?
Can you help me?
Here, me means “me”.
The sentence literally refers to helping “me”, the person speaking.
You can add por favor:
🔊 ¿Me ayuda, por favor?
This is one of the most useful complete phrases in the lesson.
Compare:
- ¿Puede ayudarme?
- ¿Me ayuda?
Both can mean “Can you help me?”
The first focuses on whether the person can help.
The second is a direct but polite request for help.
For a beginner, both forms are useful and natural.
3. “Perdón”, “Disculpe” and “Lo Siento”
These three expressions are related, but they are not always used in exactly the same situations.
Perdón
🔊 Perdón.
Use perdón for:
- A small mistake.
- A brief interruption.
- Asking someone to repeat.
- Accidentally touching or bumping into someone.
Example:
🔊 Perdón, ¿puede repetir?
Disculpe
🔊 Disculpe.
Use disculpe to get someone’s attention politely.
Example:
🔊 Disculpe, ¿me ayuda, por favor?
Disculpe is especially useful with strangers and in formal situations.
The ending -e corresponds to the polite usted form.
You do not need to study the full verb now. Learn disculpe as a complete polite expression.
Lo siento
🔊 Lo siento.
Use lo siento when you want to express genuine regret.
Example:
🔊 Lo siento, llego tarde.
Compare:
- Perdón — Sorry for a small interruption or mistake.
- Disculpe — Excuse me; used to attract attention politely.
- Lo siento — I am sorry; expresses stronger regret.
The difference is not always strict in everyday speech, but this guide will help you choose a natural expression.
4. Polite Exchanges Work in Pairs
Some courtesy expressions normally appear as pairs.
Thanks and response
— Gracias.
— De nada.
Apology and reassurance
— Lo siento.
— No pasa nada.
Learning these pairs makes conversations easier because you know how to respond immediately.
Useful Pattern 1
— Muchas gracias.
— De nada.
Useful Pattern 2
— Perdón.
— No pasa nada.
Useful Pattern 3
— Lo siento.
— No pasa nada.
The expression no pasa nada literally refers to nothing serious happening, but in natural English it often means:
- It’s all right.
- No problem.
- Don’t worry about it.
Use the Grammar in a Real Conversation
You can combine the patterns from this lesson:
— Disculpe.
— Sí.
— ¿Puede ayudarme, por favor?
— Claro.
— Muchas gracias.
— De nada.
This short conversation uses:
- A polite way to get attention.
- A question instead of an order.
- Por favor to soften the request.
- A natural expression of thanks.
- The correct response to thanks.
These structures will help you sound respectful and confident in many everyday situations in Spain.