Portuguese Phrase
Sem coentro, porfa.
Meaning
A polite request meaning “No cilantro, please.” It’s commonly used in restaurants or when ordering food to indicate a preference to omit cilantro, a herb that many people either love or dislike.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re ordering a dish that normally includes cilantro, such as tacos, salads, or soups, and you want to ask the chef or server to leave it out.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Semcoentro,porfa.
Sem + noun
“Sem” means “without” and is followed directly by the noun without an article.
Porfa (por favor)
A colloquial contraction of “por favor,” used in casual speech.
🗨In Conversation
Eu quero um burrito, sem coentro, porfa.
I’d like a burrito, no cilantro, please.
Claro, sem coentro. Mais alguma coisa?
Sure, no cilantro. Anything else?
✕Common Mistakes
Sem coentro, porfa.
“Porfa” is informal slang; in formal contexts use “por favor.”
Sem coriandro, porfa.
Don’t confuse “coentro” (cilantro) with “coriandro,” which is the seed.
↔Alternatives
Sem coentro, por favor.
No cilantro, please.
Não coloque coentro, por favor.
Don’t put cilantro, please.
Sem coentro, se puder.
No cilantro, if you could.
Cultural Tip
Cilantro (coentro) is a polarizing herb in Brazil and Portugal. While it’s a staple in many regional dishes, many people find its flavor soapy. Asking for “sem coentro” is perfectly normal and won’t be considered rude. In more formal settings, use “por favor” instead of the informal “porfa.”