Spanish Phrase
¿Me prestas un lápiz, por favor?
Meaning
This sentence is a polite way to ask someone to lend you a pencil. The speaker uses the indirect object pronoun ‘me’ and the informal second‑person verb form ‘prestas’, followed by the courtesy phrase ‘por favor’.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings such as a classroom, a study group, or an office when you need a pencil temporarily. It works best with people you address as ‘tú’, not in formal or professional contexts where ‘usted’ would be required.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Meprestasunlápiz,porfavor?
Me (indirect object pronoun)
‘Me’ replaces ‘a mí’ and indicates that the action of lending is directed toward the speaker.
prestas (present tense, 2nd person singular)
‘Prestas’ is the tú form of the verb ‘prestar’, used for informal requests.
un lápiz (indefinite article + noun)
‘Un’ signals a non‑specific pencil; the noun ‘lápiz’ is masculine and takes the accent on the í.
por favor (politeness marker)
Adding ‘por favor’ softens the request and is essential for courteous speech.
🗨In Conversation
¿Me prestas un lápiz, por favor?
Could you lend me a pencil, please?
Claro, aquí tienes.
Sure, here you go.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Me das un lápiz, por favor?
‘Dar’ means ‘to give’; using it changes the meaning from borrowing to giving.
¿Me presta un lápiz, por favor?
Missing the ‘s’ makes the verb agree with ‘usted’; use it only in formal contexts.
¿Me prestas un lapiz, por favor?
The accent on the í is required; without it the word is misspelled.
↔Alternatives
¿Podrías prestarme un lápiz?
Could you lend me a pencil?
¿Me das un lápiz, por favor?
Can you give me a pencil, please?
¿Tienes un lápiz que me puedas prestar?
Do you have a pencil you could lend me?
Cultural Tip
In Spanish‑speaking cultures, adding ‘por favor’ is considered essential for politeness, even in brief requests. When speaking to someone you don’t know well or in a formal environment, switch to the formal ‘usted’ form: ‘¿Me presta un lápiz, por favor?’ Also, remember that in many Latin American countries the ‘z’ in ‘lápiz’ is pronounced /s/ rather than the Castilian /θ/.