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How to Say ‘I would like a coffee, please.’ in French

Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.

zhuh voo-DRAY uhn ka-fay seel eel voo pleh

[zhuh voo-DRAY uhn ka-fay seel eel voo pleh]

Phrase Breakdown

Je voudrais

zhuh voo-DRAY

I would like

Polite way to ask for something in French.

Example

Je voudrais de l'eau.

I would like some water.

Words in this phrase

Je

[zhuh]

I

The subject pronoun for speaking about yourself.

Example

Je commence la phrase Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. avec Je.

I start the sentence I would like a coffee, please. with Je.

voudrais

[voo-DRAY]

would like

A polite way to ask for something in a café.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., voudrais rend la demande polie.

In I would like a coffee, please., voudrais makes the request polite.

Un café

uhn ka-fay

A coffee

Refers to one coffee; in French, 'café' usually means a coffee drink.

Example

Je prends un café.

I'll have a coffee.

Words in this phrase

un

[uhn]

a

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., un introduit café.

In I would like a coffee, please., un introduces coffee.

café

[ka-fay]

coffee

The drink being ordered.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., café est la boisson commandée.

In I would like a coffee, please., café is the drink ordered.

S'il vous plaît

seel eel voo pleh

Please

Standard polite phrase used in formal or respectful situations.

Example

Un croissant, s'il vous plaît.

A croissant, please.

Words in this phrase

s'

[seel]

if

Part of the fixed polite phrase s'il vous plaît.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., s' commence la formule polie.

In I would like a coffee, please., s' begins the polite expression.

il

[eel]

he / it

Used inside the set phrase s'il vous plaît rather than translated separately.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., il fait partie de l'expression.

In I would like a coffee, please., il is part of the expression.

vous

[voo]

you

The polite form of 'you' used in service situations.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., vous montre la politesse.

In I would like a coffee, please., vous shows politeness.

plaît

[pleh]

please

Part of the common polite phrase used when asking for something.

Example

Dans Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît., plaît complète la formule polie.

In I would like a coffee, please., plaît completes the polite phrase.

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