Easy methods to Say Please in French (with Audio)



The most typical methods to say please in French are s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît.

You utilize them if you’re requesting one thing, ordering meals, or asking permission, just like English. Utilizing these phrases makes a giant distinction in how you might be perceived, so s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît are sometimes among the many first phrases novices be taught in French.

In case your French goes past the newbie degree, you’re most likely already aware of s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît. However with the French language, studying by no means ends! Verify the vocabulary checklist under to see if all of the phrases for please in French:
ople you don’t know, equivalent to a waiter, retailer clerk, or an acquaintance. Listed here are some examples:

  • Un café, s’il vous plaît. “A espresso, please.”
  • Pourriez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? “May you assist me, please?”
  • Pourriez-vous m’envoyer les paperwork s’il vous plaît ? “May you please ship me the paperwork?”

With mates, household, and youngsters, you should utilize s’il te plaît. It is a extra informal, casual manner

Now let’s cowl them intimately:

S’il Vous Plaît and S’il Te Plaît: “Please” in French

Actually translating to “if it pleases you,” s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît imply “please” in French. The distinction between them is the formality degree. You’ll use s’il vous plaît in formal conditions, with individuals you tackle with the formal vous pronoun. This consists of peof saying “please.”

In on a regular basis speech, you’ll typically hear shortened variations of s’il te plaît, which is able to sound extra like s’te plaît. Though widespread, this shortened model is kind of casual, so use them solely with individuals nicely.

Equally, when texting, French individuals typically write stp as a substitute of s’il te plaît.

Si Cela ne Vous Dérange Pas and Si Ça Te Dérange Pas: “If It Doesn’t Trouble You”

For larger requests that may trigger an inconvenience, you should utilize the expression si cela ne vous dérange pas, which suggests “if it’s not an excessive amount of hassle” or “if it doesn’t hassle you.” We are able to say that it’s an additional well mannered, oblique manner of claiming please. Because the vous in si cela ne vous dérange pas hints, it is a formal phrase, used with authority figures or individuals you don’t know nicely. For instance:

The extra casual model of si cela ne vous dérange pas could be si ça te dérange pas, translating to “for those who don’t thoughts” or “if it doesn’t hassle you.”

Avec Plaisir: “With Pleasure”

Avec plaisir means “with pleasure,” typically used when accepting gives. For instance, when somebody gives you one thing good, like a drink, meals, or assist with one thing, you’ll be able to reply with oui, avec plaisir. This implies “Sure, with pleasure,” “sure please,” or “I’d be pleased to.”

Let’s check out the dialogue under, between Sophie and Marc:

Sophie: Est-ce que tu voudrais venir dîner chez moi ce samedi ? Je vais cuisiner du bœuf bourguignon. (Would you want to return over for dinner this Saturday? I’ll prepare dinner Burgundy beef.)
Marc: *Oui, avec plaisir ! C’est mon repas français préféré ! * (“Sure, with pleasure ! It’s my favourite French meal!”)

Within the instance above, it seems that Sophie is cooking Marc’s favourite French meal. He accepted the supply by saying avec plaisir, because it’s a extra enthusiastic manner of claiming “sure please” or “thanks.”

Pourrais-tu… or Pourriez-vous… “May you…”

A pleasant solution to ask for one thing is to make use of the verb pouvoir (“can/to have the ability to”) within the conditional tense. Say Pourrais-tu to household and mates, and Pourriez-vous in additional formal conditions. These are already well mannered methods of creating requests, however add s’il te/vous plaît to the tip to be much more well mannered.

Listed here are some examples:

Merci de + infinitive verb: “Please + verb”

One other solution to politely ask for one thing is with the expression merci de adopted by an infinitive verb. It interprets to thanks for, and implies you’re thanking the particular person upfront for doing what you’re about to ask.

For instance, merci de patienter means “thanks for ready,” normally mentioned earlier than you begin ready. We are able to additionally say patientez s’il vous plaît (“wait, please”) however merci de patienter sounds extra formal {and professional}. This is the reason you’ll typically see it in customer support contexts.

Listed here are some widespread French verbs you’d typically see with merci de.

  • Merci de patienter “Thanks for ready”
  • Merci de me rappeler “Thanks for calling me again”
  • Merci de faire consideration “Thanks for being cautious/paying consideration”
  • Merci de me tenir au courant “Thanks for retaining me knowledgeable”

Serait-il potential de… “Would it not be Doable to…”

Serait-il potential de… (“Would it not be potential to…”) is a helpful phrase if you need to soften your request. If you wish to make it much more well mannered, you’ll be able to add a s’il vous plaît or a s’il te plaît to the tip.

Some examples:

Veuillez: The Formal Please

Veuillez is a proper French verb type that interprets intently to please in English, however with a extra formal and crucial tone. It comes from the verb vouloir, which suggests “to need.”

You’ll see veuillez at first of sentences, normally in written communications and formal speeches. It’s a proper solution to command or request somebody to do one thing, in a well mannered but direct manner. Listed here are some examples:

Different Well mannered Phrases and Phrases in French

There are a number of different well mannered phrases and phrases that may come up in the identical dialog as “please” in French. Listed here are the commonest ones:

A Lot of Methods to Say Please in French!

As you’ll be able to see, the phrase for “please” in French typically is dependent upon the formality degree and context.

Whereas s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît would be the phrases you utilize essentially the most, the opposite phrases for “please” in French might be necessary in your each day life.

Mix please with different well mannered phrases, equivalent to thanks and sorry — you’re midway there for on a regular basis conversations!

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Yaren Fadiloglulari

Freelance Content material Author & Journalist

Initially from Cyprus, Yaren is a freelance author for a lot of digital publications, journey and schooling manufacturers, and start-ups.

Speaks: English, Turkish, French, and Spanish

View all posts by Yaren Fadiloglulari

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