If you want to know how to say please in French, the most common expressions are s’il vous plaît (polite or plural) and s’il te plaît (informal, singular). French often places the phrase after the request, and the best wording depends on who you are speaking to and what you are asking.
Say s’il vous plaît to be polite with a stranger, colleague, or group. Use s’il te plaît with one person you know well.
How Do You Say Please in French?
The standard polite expression is s’il vous plaît. Use it when addressing someone formally or speaking to more than one person. With a friend, family member, or child, use s’il te plaît. Both phrases literally mean “if it pleases you,” but they work like “please” in everyday requests.
Meaning: Please (polite or plural)
Different Ways to Say Please in French
Choose the pronoun that matches your relationship with the person you are addressing. The same informal-versus-formal distinction appears in Et toi? and Et vous?. For a practical request, see help in French.
1. S’il vous plaît — Please (polite or plural)
Use s’il vous plaît with someone you do not know, in a shop or restaurant, at work, or when speaking to a group. For example, Un café, s’il vous plaît means “A coffee, please.”
2. S’il te plaît — Please (informal, singular)
Use s’il te plaît with one person you address as tu, such as a friend or family member. For example, Passe-moi le sel, s’il te plaît means “Pass me the salt, please.”
3. Je vous en prie — Please / You’re welcome
Je vous en prie can invite someone to go ahead or come in, depending on context. It is also a polite way to say “you’re welcome” after someone thanks you. It is not the usual phrase to add to an everyday request.
4. Pourriez-vous… ? — Could you…?
For a very polite request, begin with Pourriez-vous… ? (“Could you…?”) and add s’il vous plaît at the end if you wish. For example, Pourriez-vous m’aider, s’il vous plaît ? means “Could you help me, please?”
Please in French: Quick Comparison
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| French | Pronunciation | Meaning | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| s’il vous plaît | seel voo pleh | Please | Polite or plural |
| s’il te plaît | seel tuh pleh | Please | Informal, one person |
| je vous en prie | zhuh voo zahn pree | Please; you’re welcome | Polite response or invitation |
| pourriez-vous… ? | poo-ree-yay voo | Could you…? | Polite request |
How to Pronounce S’il Vous Plaît
S’il vous plaît is pronounced roughly seel voo pleh. In fluent speech, the final consonant of s’il links smoothly to vous. The î in plaît carries a circumflex in the spelling; the phrase is still spoken in three connected parts.
Example Sentences Using Please in French
Meaning: A coffee, please.
Meaning: Help me, please. (informal)
Meaning: Could you repeat that, please?
Frequently Asked Questions About Please in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say please in French?
Say s’il vous plaît politely or to a group, and s’il te plaît to one person informally.
What is the difference between s’il vous plaît and s’il te plaît?
Vous is formal or plural; te is informal and singular.
Where does s’il vous plaît go in a sentence?
It often comes at the end of a request, as in Un café, s’il vous plaît.
Does je vous en prie mean please?
It can mean “please” as a polite invitation, but it is also commonly used to say “you’re welcome.”
Summary: How to Say Please in French
Use s’il vous plaît for a polite request or when speaking to a group. Use s’il te plaît with one person informally. For extra politeness, phrase the request as Pourriez-vous… ?; je vous en prie can mean “you’re welcome” or invite someone to go ahead.
