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How to Say ‘Can you let him go?’ in French

Vous pouvez le laisser partir ?

voo poo-vay luh leh-SAY par-TEER

[voo poo-vay luh leh-SAY par-TEER]

💬 Usage Tip: Le "him" goes before the verbs, not after: le laisser partir is literally "him let leave".

Phrase Breakdown

Vous pouvez

voo poo-vay

Can you

'Pouvoir' (can) in the formal 'vous' form. Say it as 'voo poo-vay'.

Example

Vous pouvez répéter ?

Can you repeat?

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?

pouvez

[poo-vay]

can

Polite verb form of pouvoir used to ask if someone is able or willing to do something.

Example

En classe, « Pouvez » se trouve dans la phrase « Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? »

In class, “Pouvez” is found in the sentence “Can you repeat, please?”

le laisser partir ?

luh leh-SAY par-TEER

let him go?

'Laisser partir' means to let go, and 'le' (him) comes before the verb. Say it as 'luh leh-say par-teer'.

Example

Laissez-le partir !

Let him go!

Words in this phrase

[luh]

him

Refers back to a male person or object mentioned.

Example

J'aimerais le rencontrer dès que possible.

I would like to meet him as soon as possible.

laisser

[leh-SAY]

to let

To allow someone to do something; 'laisser partir' means to let go.

Example

Laissez-moi entrer.

Let me in.

partir

[par-TEER]

to leave / go

To depart from a place.

Example

Je dois partir maintenant.

I have to leave now.

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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