How to Say ‘Please’ in French
S'il vous plaît
seel eel voo pleh
[seel eel voo pleh]
💬 Usage Tip: [S'il] is shortened from [si il], so it always stays attached like this before a vowel. Learn the whole chunk [s'il vous plaît] as one fixed polite expression.
Phrase Breakdown
S'
[seel]
if
Part of the fixed polite expression 's'il vous plaît'.
Dans « S'il vous plaît », « S' » vient de « si » dans une formule polie.
In “S'il vous plaît,” “S'” comes from “si” in a polite expression.
il
[eel]
he / it
In this fixed phrase, it does not mean a person literally; it is part of the expression.
Dans « S'il vous plaît », « il » fait partie de l'expression figée.
In “S'il vous plaît,” “il” is part of the fixed expression.
vous
[voo]
you
A formal or plural form of 'you', used politely.
Dans « S'il vous plaît », « vous » rend la demande polie.
In “S'il vous plaît,” “vous” makes the request polite.
plaît
[pleh]
pleases
Part of the polite phrase meaning 'please'.
Dans « S'il vous plaît », « plaît » complète la formule de politesse.
In “S'il vous plaît,” “plaît” completes the polite phrase.
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