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How to Say ‘Can I help you?’ in French

Je peux vous aider ?

zhuh puh voo eh-day

[zhuh puh voo eh-day]

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux

zhuh puh

Can I

'peux' has the rounded 'eu' sound, and its 'x' is silent.

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 aider ?

voo eh-day

help you?

Make the liaison: the 's' of 'vous' sounds like 'z', giving 'voo-zay-day'.

Example

Je vais vous aider.

I'm going to help you.

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?

aider

[eh-day]

to help

Verb meaning to help.

Example

Si je suis perdu, je demande « Pouvez-vous m'aider ? ».

If I am lost, I ask “Can you help me?”

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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