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How to Say ‘But I'm warning you, I'm only staying for half an hour or so.’ in French

Mais je vous préviens, je ne reste qu'une petite demi-heure.

meh zhuh voo pray-VYAN zhuh nuh rest k ewn puh-teet duh-mee-UR

[meh zhuh voo pray-VYAN zhuh nuh rest k ewn puh-teet duh-mee-UR]

🇫🇷 In France: Stating a time limit up front is a normal, polite way to accept a drink while setting a boundary. It isn't a brush-off.

Phrase Breakdown

Mais je vous préviens,

meh zhuh voo pray-VYAN

But I'm warning you,

This politely sets a condition. Pause at the comma.

Example

Mais je vous préviens, je suis fatigué.

But I'm warning you, I'm tired.

Words in this phrase

Mais

[meh]

But

Used to introduce a contrast.

Example

Il est petit mais fort.

He is small but strong.

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

préviens

[pray-VYAN]

warn

Present of 'prévenir' (I form): to warn or let someone know in advance.

Example

Je te préviens, c'est cher.

I'm warning you, it's expensive.

je ne reste

zhuh nuh rest

I'm only staying

This is the start of 'ne… que' (only). Say it smoothly, as 'jeun reste'.

Example

Je ne reste que cinq minutes.

I'm only staying five minutes.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[nuh]

(negation) not

Negation particle used with another negative word (ne… rien). In speech, it can be dropped, but it’s standard in writing.

Example

Ne me raconte rien sur l’anime, je veux garder la surprise.

Don’t tell me anything about the anime, I want to keep the surprise.

reste

[rest]

stays; remains

Verb from rester, meaning to stay or remain.

Example

Elle reste calme dans sa caisse.

She stays calm in her crate.

qu'une petite demi-heure.

k ewn puh-teet duh-mee-UR

a short half hour.

This completes 'ne… que'. Let the voice fall at the end.

Example

On a qu'une petite demi-heure.

We only have a short half hour.

Words in this phrase

qu'

[k]

only (with 'ne')

'Ne... que' means 'only'.

Example

Je n'ai qu'un euro.

I only have one euro.

une

[ewn]

a / an

An indefinite article used before feminine singular nouns.

Example

Une rencontre comme celle-ci peut ouvrir des portes.

A meeting like this can open doors.

petite

[puh-teet]

small / little

Adjective describing something as small, short, or modest.

Example

Une petite visite samedi peut convenir.

A short visit on Saturday could work.

demi-heure

[duh-mee-UR]

half an hour

Feminine noun for thirty minutes.

Example

J'arrive dans une demi-heure.

I'll be there in half an hour.

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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