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How to Say ‘I have a quick question.’ in French

J'ai une petite question.

zhay ay ewn puh-TEET kes-TYOHN

[zhay ay ewn puh-TEET kes-TYOHN]

🇫🇷 In France: Calling your question petite softens it, even if it's a tough one. It's a standard polite way to open the Q&A without sounding like a challenge.

Phrase Breakdown

J'ai une

zhay ay ewn

I have a

'J'ai' sounds like 'zhay'. Link it smoothly into 'une' (round your lips for the French 'u').

Example

J'ai une idée.

I have an idea.

Words in this phrase

[zhay]

Pronoun used by the speaker to refer to himself or herself.

Example

J'aime les bonbons.

I like candies.

[ay]

have

Form of 'avoir' used with past participles to make the past tense.

Example

J'ai beaucoup appris grâce à notre discussion.

I learned a lot thanks to our discussion.

une

[ewn]

Indefinite article, feminine singular.

Example

Elle veut une pomme.

She wants an apple.

petite question.

puh-TEET kes-TYOHN

little question

'Petite' is often said quickly as 'p'tite'. In 'question' the 'qu' sounds like 'k' and the ending is 'tyon'.

Example

C'est une petite maison.

It's a little house.

Words in this phrase

petite

[puh-TEET]

small

Feminine of 'petit'.

Example

Une petite maison.

A small house.

question

[kes-TYOHN]

question

Something you ask; feminine noun.

Example

J'ai une question.

I have a question.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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