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- "É um favor."
13 Comments
I went with it being more like, "It is a pleasure." The translation "it is a favor" is definitely awkward in English. To do someone a "favor" implies that, potentially, the person may ask for something in return.
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It does mean ¨it is a favor,¨ not ¨it is a pleasure.¨ Erudis explains it further down the page.
"It is a favor" seems awkward to my English-speaking ear. Is this a Brazilian way of saying, 'you're welcome" or "think nothing of it"?
The equivalent of "you're welcome" in Portuguese is "de nada". "É um favor" is not really used to mean "you're welcome", it would seem awkward to my Portuguese-speaking ear too, although I would definitely understand the meaning (but it could also sound like they're expecting me to do something in return).
Maybe a good context for this phrase would be "Não precisa me pagar por isso. É um favor.", which means "(You) don't have to pay me for this. It is a favor.".
Obrigada, Erudis! Sometimes I wonder about these phrases that are chosen because I don't want to sound strange when I try to speak Portuguese. I appreciate the response. :-) --Anne
"É um favor" means literally "it is a favor". When you help someone, you are doing a favor. One cannot ask money for a favor, because it wouldn't be a favor anymore. (Favors are free). So, "é um favor" can be used to imply "I would never ask money for that, I'm doing it for free, it's a favor".
This sentence simply makes no sense. What is being said here? I reported it as a mistake.
"É um favor" means literally "it is a favor". When you help someone, you are doing a favor. One cannot ask money for a favor, because it wouldn't be a favor anymore. (Favors are free). So, "é um favor" can be used to imply "I would never ask money for that, I'm doing it for free, it's a favor"
Example:
One asks: how much do you want for it (the help you gave someone)?? You answer: "é um favor" (it is a favor)
