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How to Say ‘I'll have a half-pint’ in French

Je vais prendre un demi

zhuh veh prond-ruh uhn duh-MEE

[zhuh veh prond-ruh uhn duh-MEE]

💬 Usage Tip: Je vais prendre is a polite, reusable way to order anything. Swap the item: Je vais prendre un verre de rouge "I'll have a glass of red".

🇫🇷 In France: A demi is the default draught beer, about 25 cl. That is smaller than a British half-pint, so it is the usual thing to order.

Phrase Breakdown

Je vais prendre

zhuh veh prond-ruh

I'll have

Near future: 'aller' + infinitive. Commonly used to order.

Example

Je vais prendre le menu.

I'll have the set menu.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

vais

[veh]

am going to

Present tense of 'go,' used to express future intention.

Example

Je vais préparer le dîner.

I am going to prepare dinner.

prendre

[prond-ruh]

take

To receive or acquire.

Example

Nous allons prendre un taxi.

We are going to take a taxi.

un demi

uhn duh-MEE

a half (a 25 cl draft beer)

In a French bar, 'un demi' is a small glass of draft beer.

Example

Un demi, s'il vous plaît.

A small draft beer, please.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

Indefinite article used before a singular noun.

Example

Un petit garçon joue.

A little boy is playing.

demi

[duh-MEE]

half-pint of beer

In bars, a glass of draught beer (about 25 cl).

Example

Un demi pour moi, merci.

A half of beer for me, thanks.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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