🇫🇷 How to say

“please” in French

s'il vous plaît
Illustration of "please" in a French cultural setting
A person in a café gestures politely to a waiter while holding up an empty coffee cup, with a friendly smile on their face.

Usage note

This polite phrase is essential in French for making requests courteously, similar to 'please' in English, and is used in formal situations or with people you don't know well.

Examples

  • Un café, s'il vous plaît.

    A coffee, please.

  • Pouvez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît?

    Can you help me, please?

  • La note, s'il vous plaît.

    The bill, please.

Quick check

What does "s'il vous plaît" mean?

  • A. please
  • B. no
  • C. why
  • D. thank you

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