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

Je vais prendre un demi, s'il vous plaît.

zhuh veh prond-ruh uhn duh-MEE s eel voo pleh

[zhuh veh prond-ruh uhn duh-MEE s eel voo pleh]

Phrase Breakdown

Je vais prendre un demi,

zhuh veh prond-ruh uhn duh-MEE

I'll have a small draft beer,

Polite ordering with the near future.

Example

Je vais prendre un café.

I'll have a coffee.

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.

[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.

s'il vous plaît.

s eel voo pleh

please.

The formal 'please', used with waiters.

Example

Un verre d'eau, s'il vous plaît.

A glass of water, please.

Words in this phrase

[s]

Shortened form of 'si' before 'il', used in 's'il vous plaît'.

Example

Viens s'il fait beau.

Come if the weather is nice.

[eel]

it (impersonal)

Impersonal subject used with verbs like 'rester' meaning 'there is left'.

Example

Il reste du pain.

There is some bread left.

vous

[voo]

to you

Indirect object pronoun: the person receiving something.

Example

Je vous donne la monnaie.

I give you the change.

plaît

[pleh]

pleases / is liked

From the verb 'plaire'; it means something is pleasing or appealing.

Example

Ça me plaît quand l'équipe est ouverte.

I like it when the team is open.

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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