How to Say ‘Please’ in French
S'il vous plaît
💬 Usage Tip: Essential for politeness, no direct equivalent in English.
Phrase Breakdown
S'il
Vous plaît
Word-by-Word Breakdown
S'
[s]
Please
A polite expression used when requesting something.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a coffee, please.
il
[il]
If he
Used in conditional expressions.
S'il est d'accord, nous prendrons ce café.
If he agrees, we will take this coffee.
vous
[vu]
You
Second-person pronoun polite form.
S'il vous plaît, passez le café.
Please, pass the coffee.
plaît
[plɛ]
Pleases
Indicates approval or satisfaction.
J'espère que le café vous plaît.
I hope the coffee pleases you.
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