Introduction
Learning how to ask someone to speak more slowly is one of the first and most useful phrases for Portuguese beginners. This short guide teaches clear, practical ways to say slowly please in Brazilian Portuguese, with vocabulary, example dialogues, pronunciation tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
- Key phrase to use
- Other useful variations
- Pronunciation tips
- When to use each phrase — practical contexts
- Practical dialogues and examples
- Related vocabulary for beginners
- Politeness and tone
- Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
- Short practice exercises for beginners
- Tips for remembering the phrase
- Where you will use this in Brazil
- Quick reference cheat sheet
- Practice-ready sample sentences
- Resources to hear Brazilian pronunciation
- Conclusion
Key phrase to use
The simplest polite request is Devagar, por favor. Use this when you need someone to slow down while speaking, giving you time to understand and process words.
What the phrase means
Devagar means slowly or at a slow pace. Por favor means please. Together, Devagar, por favor is the direct and polite way to ask someone to slow down.
Other useful variations
Depending on context and formality, you can use different phrases. Each is in Brazilian Portuguese and suited to beginners.
Mais devagar, por favor
More slowly, please. Slightly more emphatic than Devagar, por favor.
Fala mais devagar, por favor
Speak more slowly, please. Use this directly with a speaker.
Pode falar mais devagar?
Can you speak more slowly? A polite question form often used with new acquaintances or service workers.
Repete, por favor
Repeat, please. Use when you need repetition rather than speed change.
Desculpe, pode repetir devagar?
Sorry, can you repeat slowly? Adds an apology for interrupting.
Pronunciation tips
Focus on simple sounds that often confuse English speakers.
Devagar: deh-vah-GAR with the stress on the last syllable. The r at the end in most Brazilian accents sounds like a soft d or a guttural h depending on region, but beginners can use a light r.
Por favor: por fah-VOR with the stress on the last syllable. Por is similar to English pour and favor is like fah-vor.
Mais devagar: mai(s) deh-vah-GAR. The s in mais is pronounced like s at the end of a word.
When to use each phrase — practical contexts
Use Devagar, por favor in informal and formal settings when you need the speaker to slow their pace quickly.
Use Fala mais devagar, por favor with friends, classmates, or teachers when addressing them directly in conversation.
Use Pode falar mais devagar? with service staff, receptionists, or strangers to maintain politeness and distance.
Use Repete, por favor when you understood the speaker but missed a portion and you need repetition rather than a change of speed.
Practical dialogues and examples
Example 1 — At a coffee shop
Barista: O que você quer pedir?
Customer: Desculpe, pode falar mais devagar?
Barista: Claro. Você quer um café com leite?
Example 2 — In a classroom
Teacher: Hoje vamos estudar verbos irregulares.
Student: Professor, fala mais devagar, por favor.
Teacher: Tudo bem, vou explicar passo a passo.
Example 3 — On the phone
Caller: A sua consulta é na próxima terça-feira às 10h.
Você: Desculpe, pode repetir devagar?
Caller: Consulta terça-feira, 10 horas.
Example 4 — With a friend speaking quickly
Friend: Eu fui ao mercado e comprei pão, leite, frutas, e ainda encontrei a Ana no caixa!
Você: Calma, devagar, por favor.
Related vocabulary for beginners
devagar — slowly
devagarinho — slowly, little by little (diminutive form)
por favor — please
desculpe — sorry; excuse me
pode — can; can you (from the verb poder)
repetir — to repeat
falar — to speak
um pouco mais devagar — a little bit slower
Politeness and tone
Brazilian Portuguese uses por favor and desculpe to soften requests. Adding por favor at the end of a short imperative makes it polite: Fala mais devagar, por favor. Using pode + infinitive is even more polite for requests: Pode falar mais devagar?
Maintain a calm tone and friendly body language. Smiling and a relaxed posture will make native speakers more willing to accommodate your request.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: Saying only devagar without context. This can sound abrupt. Fix: Add por favor or a verb for clarity, for example Devagar, por favor or Fala mais devagar, por favor.
Mistake: Overpronouncing the r at the end of devagar so it sounds like an English r. Fix: Use a light, softer r sound or a slight d-like ending depending on your comfort.
Mistake: Using European Portuguese phrases or pronunciations. Fix: Stick to Brazilian Portuguese phrases in this guide and mimic Brazilian accents in audio resources.
Mistake: Direct translation from English like slowly please without using por favor placement or verb forms. Fix: Use natural Portuguese word order such as Mais devagar, por favor or Pode repetir devagar?.
Short practice exercises for beginners
Exercise 1 — Repeat aloud:
Devagar, por favor.
Mais devagar, por favor.
Pode falar mais devagar?
Exercise 2 — Role-play with a partner: One person speaks quickly about their day. The other practices saying Desculpe, pode falar mais devagar? Then swap roles.
Exercise 3 — Listening practice: Find a short Brazilian Portuguese audio clip. Pause every few seconds and say Repete, por favor if you need repetition, or Fala mais devagar, por favor to practice asking the speaker to slow down (imagine asking).
Tips for remembering the phrase
Connect the word devagar with the English word slow by visualizing a snail, then add por favor to make it polite. Repetition in real contexts helps: ask for slower speech when talking with teachers, language partners, or customer service.
Keep a small flashcard with the phrase written: front side Devagar, por favor; back side pronunciation and example sentence.
Where you will use this in Brazil
You will use these phrases in classrooms, shops, restaurants, medical or appointment calls, public transportation announcements, and casual conversations. Asking someone to slow down is appropriate and common in everyday Brazilian interactions.
Quick reference cheat sheet
Devagar, por favor — Slow down, please.
Mais devagar, por favor — A bit slower, please.
Fala mais devagar, por favor — Speak more slowly, please.
Pode falar mais devagar? — Can you speak more slowly?
Repete, por favor — Repeat, please.
Practice-ready sample sentences
Eu não entendi, pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
I did not understand, can you speak more slowly please?
Desculpe, repete devagar?
Sorry, repeat slowly?
Fala mais devagar que eu sou iniciante.
Speak more slowly because I am a beginner.
O professor falou muito rápido, então pedi: Devagar, por favor.
The teacher spoke very fast, so I asked: Slowly, please.
Resources to hear Brazilian pronunciation
Use language apps and Brazilian YouTube channels that label speech speed controls. Listen to slow-mode audio, repeat the phrase, and then try the normal-speed version. Look for content tagged brasileiro or português brasileiro for authentic accents.
Conclusion
Mastering how to ask someone to speak more slowly is an essential tool for Portuguese beginners. Phrases like Devagar, por favor and Pode falar mais devagar? are polite, easy to learn, and immediately useful in classrooms, shops, and conversations. Practice the pronunciation, try the short role-plays, and use the cheat sheet until the phrases feel natural.
