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How to Say ‘I'd like to speak to Ms. Martin, please.’ in French

Je voudrais parler à Madame Martin, s'il vous plaît.

zhuh voo-DREH par-lay ah mah-DAHM mar-TAN s eel voo pleh

[zhuh voo-DREH par-lay ah mah-DAHM mar-TAN s eel voo pleh]

🇫🇷 In France: On the phone, people refer to someone as Madame or Monsieur plus their surname. Using a first name for someone you haven't met sounds too familiar.

Phrase Breakdown

Je voudrais parler

zhuh voo-DREH par-lay

I would like to speak

This polite opening is how you ask for someone on the phone.

Example

Je voudrais parler à votre collègue.

I would like to speak to your colleague.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

voudrais

[voo-DREH]

would like

Conditional of 'vouloir', a polite way to ask for something.

Example

Je voudrais un café.

I would like a coffee.

parler

[par-lay]

to speak / talk

Infinitive verb meaning to speak or talk, often followed by de for the topic.

Example

Je peux vous parler de mon dernier projet.

I can talk to you about my latest project.

à Madame Martin,

ah mah-DAHM mar-TAN

to Mrs. Martin,

This names the person you are asking for. 'Madame' is the formal title for a woman.

Example

C'est pour Madame Martin.

It's for Mrs. Martin.

Words in this phrase

[ah]

Used with infinitive verbs to indicate purpose.

Example

Elle commence à chanter.

She begins to sing.

Madame

[mah-DAHM]

madam, Mrs.

Polite way to address a woman, e.g. a teacher.

Example

Merci, madame.

Thank you, madam.

Martin

[mar-TAN]

Martin (surname)

A very common French family name.

Example

Monsieur Martin est mon voisin.

Mr. Martin is my neighbor.

s'il vous plaît.

s eel voo pleh

please.

The formal 'please', which closes the request politely.

Example

Entrez, s'il vous plaît.

Come in, please.

Words in this phrase

[s]

Shortened form of 'si' before 'il', used in 's'il vous plaît'.

Example

Viens s'il fait beau.

Come if the weather is nice.

[eel]

it (impersonal)

Impersonal subject used with verbs like 'rester' meaning 'there is left'.

Example

Il reste du pain.

There is some bread left.

vous

[voo]

to you

Indirect object pronoun: the person receiving something.

Example

Je vous donne la monnaie.

I give you the change.

plaît

[pleh]

pleases / is liked

From the verb 'plaire'; it means something is pleasing or appealing.

Example

Ça me plaît quand l'équipe est ouverte.

I like it when the team is open.

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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