English · Greetings & Phrases
please
/pliːz/
[/pliːz/]
polite request word
Beginnerinterjection
Definition
A word added to a request to make it polite or courteous.
Example
Could you please pass me the salt? I cannot quite reach it from here.
Could you please pass me the salt? I cannot quite reach it from here.
Etymology
Shortened from "if you please," from Old French "plaisir," to please.
How & Where It’s Used
Considered essential for politeness in English; omitting it can sound rude or demanding.
Cultural Note
In British culture especially, "please" is regarded as a fundamental marker of good manners.