How to Say ‘I would like a coffee, please.’ in French
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
zhuh voo-DRAY uhn kah-FAY seel eel voo pleh
[zhuh voo-DRAY uhn kah-FAY seel eel voo pleh]
Phrase Breakdown
Je voudrais
zhuh voo-DRAY
I would like
Polite way to express a request or wish in French.
Je voudrais de l'eau.
I would like some water.
Words in this phrase
Je
[zhuh]
I
The French subject pronoun for I.
Je voudrais un mocha aujourd'hui.
I would like a mocha today.
voudrais
[voo-DRAY]
would like
A polite way to ask for something when ordering.
Je voudrais un café décaféiné.
I would like a decaf coffee.
Un café
uhn kah-FAY
A coffee
Refers to one coffee, usually an espresso in a café context.
Un café, merci.
A coffee, please.
Words in this phrase
un
[uhn]
a
An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.
Je voudrais un café avant de partir.
I would like a coffee before leaving.
café
[kah-FAY]
coffee
The French word for coffee; often used broadly in ordering situations.
Je voudrais un café avec un peu de lait.
I would like a coffee with a little milk.
S'il vous plaît
seel eel voo pleh
Please
Polite phrase used when making a request.
Un croissant, s'il vous plaît.
A croissant, please.
Words in this phrase
s'
[seel]
if
Part of the polite phrase s'il vous plaît, meaning please.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît, avant mon train.
I would like a coffee, please, before my train.
il
[eel]
he / it
In s'il vous plaît, il refers to it in the fixed polite expression.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît, sans sucre.
I would like a coffee, please, without sugar.
vous
[voo]
you
The formal you, used in polite expressions and when addressing staff.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît, vous avez du lait ?
I would like a coffee, please, do you have milk?
plaît
[pleh]
pleases
Part of the fixed expression meaning please.
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît, bien serré.
I would like a coffee, please, very strong.
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