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How to Say ‘Can I…?’ in French

Est-ce que je peux… ?

eh suh kuh zhuh puh

[eh suh kuh zhuh puh]

💬 Usage Tip: Est-ce que turns any statement into a question without changing the word order. Just add an action after it: Est-ce que je peux poser une question ? "Can I ask a question?"

Phrase Breakdown

Est-ce que

eh suh kuh

(question marker)

Turns a statement into a yes/no question. Say it as one unit: 'ess-ke'.

Example

Est-ce que vous parlez anglais ?

Do you speak English?

Words in this phrase

Est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

-ce

[suh]

question marker

Part of est-ce que, a common way to form a yes/no question in French.

Example

Est-ce que cela vous a aidé ?

Did that help you?

que

[kuh]

that

Introduces the clause that follows after expressing a thought or opinion.

Example

Dans Je pense que, que relie l'opinion à l'idée suivante.

In "Je pense que," "que" links the opinion to the next idea.

je peux… ?

zhuh puh

can I…?

Pouvoir means 'can'. Peux has a rounded 'eu' sound and a silent x.

Example

Je peux entrer ?

Can I come in?

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

peux

[puh]

can / may

From the verb pouvoir; used to ask permission or say what you are able to do.

Example

Est-ce que je peux vous parler après le cours ?

May I speak to you after class?

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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