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Kindly refrain from walking on the grass.
Kindly move your car out of the front yard.

Usage notes


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In an Indian language like Hindi, we say Kripaya. Translated to English it literally means kindly.

Similarly, other Indian languages also have the same pattern. For instance, Kannada Dayavittu, which also translates to kindly. Hence, we Indians mistake kindly to mean please.

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It's not a mistake. –  ShreevatsaR Dec 27 '14 at 7:12
It totally is!​ :-) –  Lightness Races in Orbit May 3 at 0:14


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Great meta-example here, with the use of the phrase "the same". Archaic elsewhere, really only still used in legal wording. –  Lightness Races in Orbit May 3 at 0:14

My Asian experience is mainly with Malaysia (formerly Malaya). English is very widely spoken especially among the immigrant Chinese and Indian population.

Lots or forms which are archaic in Britain are used, often in the most endearing way. For example the expression 'take your sweet time'. In Britain it is nowadays only ever used in sarcasm, e.g to someone who is holding up the rest of the group by taking too much time over things 'OK, take your sweet time!'. But in Malaysia if they want to emphasise that there is absolutely no hurry they will say 'alright, no hurry, take your sweet time.'

Please also bear in mind that out East, courtesy and good manners, especially when dealing with Europeans are considered paramount by many people.

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The word 'Kindly'is used, especially for official writings such as email & leave request form to express a request and to sound polite. It is a step ahead of 'Please'.

It is usually a substitute for "could you please" of American English.

It is used instead of 'please' to avoid the imperative tone. E.g.: "Please fix this!" sometimes is imperative (order), and not a request. But, "kindly" always means request.

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