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How to Say ‘Can I ask you’ in French

Je peux vous demander

zhuh puh voo duh-mahn-DAY

[zhuh puh voo duh-mahn-DAY]

💬 Usage Tip: Vous sits before the verb it belongs to: je peux vous demander, not after demander. Same with je peux vous aider "can I help you".

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux

zhuh puh

Can I

'Peux' has the rounded 'eu' sound. Often said as 'j'peux'.

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?

vous demander

voo duh-mahn-DAY

ask you

'Demander' means 'to ask', not 'to demand'. The middle 'e' is often dropped: 'd'man-day'.

Example

Je vais vous demander un service.

I'm going to ask you a favor.

Words in this phrase

vous

[voo]

to you

Indirect object pronoun: the person receiving something.

Example

Je vous donne la monnaie.

I give you the change.

demander

[duh-mahn-DAY]

to ask

Verb meaning to ask or request something.

Example

Je vais demander l'addition.

I'm going to ask for the bill.

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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