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How to Say ‘May I ask who's calling?’ in French

C'est de la part de qui ?

s eh duh lah pahr duh kee

[s eh duh lah pahr duh kee]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally this is "it's on behalf of whom?" You answer with de plus your name, for example De Paul Martin.

Phrase Breakdown

C'est de la part

s eh duh lah pahr

It's on behalf

'De la part de' means 'from' or 'on behalf of'. The 't' in 'part' is silent.

Example

C'est de la part de Marie.

It's from Marie.

Words in this phrase

C'

[s]

it / this

"C'" stands for "ce" and means "it" or "this" in expressions like "c'est."

Example

C'est agréable de parler avec une équipe accueillante.

It's pleasant to speak with a welcoming team.

est

[eh]

is

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

de

[duh]

from / on behalf of

Part of 'de la part de', meaning 'on behalf of'.

Example

C'est de la part de Marie.

It's from Marie.

la

[lah]

the

A definite article preceding a noun.

Example

La porte est ouverte.

The door is open.

part

[pahr]

behalf / part

A noun meaning share or side; in 'de la part de' it means 'on behalf of'.

Example

Bonjour de la part de Paul.

Hello from Paul.

de qui ?

duh kee

of whom?

Raise your voice on 'qui' to make it a question. 'Qui' sounds like 'kee'.

Example

Une lettre de qui ?

A letter from whom?

Words in this phrase

de

[duh]

of

Links 'de la part' to the person; 'de qui' = 'of whom'.

Example

De la part de qui ?

On behalf of whom?

qui

[kee]

Who

Used to introduce a clause giving more information about a person.

Example

C'est le garçon qui habitait ici.

That's the boy who lived here.

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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