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How to Say ‘Do you mind if I sit down?’ in French

Vous permettez que je m'assoie ?

voo pair-meh-TAY kuh zhuh m ah-SWAH

[voo pair-meh-TAY kuh zhuh m ah-SWAH]

💬 Usage Tip: After que, the verb shifts to a different form: je m'assois "I sit" becomes que je m'assoie. They sound the same, so this only matters when you write it.

Phrase Breakdown

Vous permettez

voo pair-meh-TAY

Do you mind / May I

This polite question literally means 'you allow?'. The ending sounds like 'é'.

Example

Vous permettez ?

May I?

Words in this phrase

Vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

permettez

[pair-meh-TAY]

allow / permit

Polite 'vous' form of 'permettre', used to ask permission.

Example

Vous permettez que j'ouvre la fenêtre ?

Do you mind if I open the window?

que je m'assoie ?

kuh zhuh m ah-SWAH

if I sit down?

'M'assoie' is the subjunctive of 's'asseoir' and is said 'ma-swa'. Your voice should rise at the end.

Example

Je peux m'assoie ici ? — Oui, asseyez-vous.

Can I sit here? — Yes, sit down.

Words in this phrase

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.

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[m]

myself

A reflective pronoun used to show that the subject and object are the same person.

Example

Je m'habille rapidement le matin.

I dress myself quickly in the morning.

assoie

[ah-SWAH]

sit down

Subjunctive of 's'asseoir' (to sit down) for 'je'.

Example

Il faut que je m'assoie.

I need to sit down.

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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