How to Say ‘Please’ in French
S'il vous plaît
seel eel voo pleh
[seel eel voo pleh]
💬 Usage Tip: [S'il vous plaît] literally contains [si] "if," but treat the whole thing as a fixed polite phrase meaning "please." In speech it often runs together heavily.
Phrase Breakdown
S'il
seel eel
if it
Contraction used before a vowel sound in the polite phrase.
S'il te plaît.
Please (informal).
Words in this phrase
S'
[seel]
if
Shortened form in the polite phrase 's'il vous plaît.' Literally it comes from 'if.'
S' il vous plaît est une formule très polie.
'S'il vous plaît' is a very polite expression.
il
[eel]
he / it
In the set phrase 's'il vous plaît,' 'il' is part of the literal structure, though the whole phrase simply means 'please.'
Dans S'il vous plaît, le mot il fait partie de l'expression.
In 'S'il vous plaît,' the word 'il' is part of the expression.
vous
[voo]
you
Formal or plural 'you.' In polite requests, it addresses the other person respectfully.
Je dis vous au chauffeur pour rester poli.
I say 'vous' to the driver to stay polite.
plaît
[pleh]
pleases
From 'plaire,' meaning 'to please.' In the expression 's'il vous plaît,' the whole phrase means 'please.'
S'il vous plaît contient le mot plaît.
'S'il vous plaît' contains the word 'plaît.'
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