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How to Say ‘A coffee, please.’ in French

Un café, s'il vous plaît.

uhn kah-fay seel eel voo pleh

[uhn kah-fay seel eel voo pleh]

Phrase Breakdown

Un café,

uhn kah-fay

A coffee,

'Un' is a nasal vowel. The é in 'café' is a clear 'ay' sound.

Example

Un café et un croissant.

A coffee and a croissant.

Words in this phrase

Un

[uhn]

a / an

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Un casque est important pour le roller.

A helmet is important for inline skating.

café

[kah-fay]

coffee

A coffee; in networking, it often suggests an informal conversation over coffee.

Example

Un café après le salon permet de continuer l'échange.

A coffee after the fair allows the conversation to continue.

s'il vous plaît.

seel eel voo pleh

please.

The polite form of 'please', said as 'seel-voo-pleh'.

Example

L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

The bill, please.

Words in this phrase

s'

[seel]

if

Part of the fixed polite expression s'il vous plaît, literally if it pleases you.

Example

S'il vous plaît, confirmez la réservation.

Please confirm the reservation.

il

[eel]

it

In il y a, il does not refer to a person; it is part of the expression meaning “there is/there are.”

Example

Est-ce qu'il y a un parking sur place ?

Is there parking on site?

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

plaît

[pleh]

pleases

From plaire, to please; part of the expression meaning please.

Example

S'il vous plaît, cela me plaît beaucoup.

Please, I like that very much.

Related guides

French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseSix basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.French Phrases for Tourists: What to Say in Cafés, Shops, Stations and RestaurantsThe French phrases tourists actually use, sorted by situation: greetings, directions, cafés, restaurants, shopping and emergencies, with native audio.

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