Spanish Phrase
Sí, una bolsa, porfa.
Meaning
A quick, friendly way to say ‘Yes, a bag, please.’ The speaker confirms they want a bag and adds a polite request, but does so in a relaxed, informal tone.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re at a grocery store, market stall, or café and the staff asks if you’d like a bag. It’s perfect for casual interactions with friends, street vendors, or in informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Síunabolsaporfa
Sí (affirmation)
Used to answer positively to a yes/no question; it can stand alone or precede the rest of the answer.
una (indefinite article)
Feminine singular form of 'un', matches the gender of the noun 'bolsa'.
bolsa (noun)
A feminine noun meaning 'bag' or 'sack'; commonly used for shopping bags, plastic bags, etc.
porfa (colloquial por favor)
A very informal contraction of 'por favor' used among friends, in casual shops, or online chat.
🗨In Conversation
¿Quieres una bolsa?
Do you want a bag?
Sí, una bolsa, porfa.
Yes, a bag, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Sí, un bolsa, porfa.
‘Bolsa’ is feminine, so the article must be ‘una’, not ‘un’.
Sí, una bolsa, por favor.
While not wrong, using the full ‘por favor’ can sound stiff in a very informal setting where ‘porfa’ is expected.
Sí una bolsa porfa.
Missing the comma after ‘Sí’ makes the sentence sound rushed; a pause is natural in speech.
↔Alternatives
Sí, una bolsa, por favor.
Yes, a bag, please.
Claro, una bolsa, porfa.
Sure, a bag, please.
Sí, dame una bolsa, porfa.
Yes, give me a bag, please.
Cultural Tip
‘Porfa’ is slang and should be avoided in formal contexts such as business meetings, official paperwork, or when speaking to strangers you want to show respect to. In those cases, use the full ‘por favor’. Also, note that many Latin American countries automatically give a bag for a small fee, so you might hear ‘¿Quieres bolsa?’ instead of ‘¿Quieres una bolsa?’