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How to Say ‘Can you repeat, please?’ in French

Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?

poo-vay voo ray-pay-tay seel eel voo pleh

[poo-vay voo ray-pay-tay seel eel voo pleh]

Phrase Breakdown

Pouvez-vous répéter,

poo-vay voo ray-pay-tay

Can you repeat,

Pronounced 'poo-vay-VOO ray-pay-TAY'. The 'z' in 'pouvez' and the 'r' in 'répéter' are silent at the end of each word.

Example

Pouvez-vous répéter le numéro ?

Can you repeat the number?

Words in this phrase

Pouvez

[poo-vay]

can

To be able to or have the ability to do something.

Example

Pouvez-vous m'aider ?

Can you help me?

-vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Comment allez-vous ?

How are you?

répéter

[ray-pay-tay]

repeat

To say or do something again.

Example

Pouvez-vous répéter la question ?

Can you repeat the question?

s'il vous plaît ?

seel eel voo pleh

please?

The formal 'please', pronounced 'seel voo PLEH'. Here it ends a question, so your voice rises.

Example

L'addition, s'il vous plaît ?

The bill, please?

Words in this phrase

s'

[seel]

if

Shortened form in the polite phrase 's'il vous plaît.' Literally it comes from 'if.'

Example

S' il vous plaît est une formule très polie.

'S'il vous plaît' is a very polite expression.

il

[eel]

it

A subject pronoun meaning "it" or sometimes "he." In weather expressions like "Il fait beau," French uses "il" where English says "it."

Example

Il fait beau ce matin.

It is nice out this morning.

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

plaît

[pleh]

pleases

Verb form from 'plaire.' In the full expression it contributes to the meaning 'please.'

Example

Le mot plaît est très fréquent dans la formule polie.

The word 'plaît' is very common in the polite expression.

Related guides

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.Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.

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