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How to Say ‘When can I come back?’ in French

Quand est-ce que je peux revenir ?

kahn eh suh kuh zhuh puh ruh-vuh-NEER

[kahn eh suh kuh zhuh puh ruh-vuh-NEER]

💬 Usage Tip: Put est-ce que after a question word and keep normal word order. Où est-ce que je peux payer ? "where can I pay?" works the same way.

Phrase Breakdown

Quand est-ce que

kahn eh suh kuh

When

This is a common way to ask 'when'. Link the words with a t-sound: 'kan-tès-keu'.

Example

Quand est-ce que ça ouvre ?

When does it open?

Words in this phrase

Quand

[kahn]

when

Question word asking about time; can go at the end in casual speech.

Example

Tu arrives quand ?

When are you arriving?

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

-ce

[suh]

it (in 'est-ce que')

Part of the question formula 'est-ce que', which turns a statement into a yes/no question.

Example

Est-ce que vous êtes ouverts ?

Are you open?

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 revenir ?

zhuh puh ruh-vuh-NEER

can I come back?

Say 'jeu peu rev-nir' and raise your tone at the end.

Example

Est-ce que je peux revenir plus tard ?

Can I come back later?

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

peux

[puh]

can

Form of pouvoir meaning to be able to or can.

Example

Je peux vous présenter mes compétences en quelques minutes.

I can present my skills to you in a few minutes.

revenir

[ruh-vuh-NEER]

to come back

Infinitive meaning to return.

Example

Tu peux revenir demain.

You can come back tomorrow.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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