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How to Say ‘That's a bit late for us, unfortunately.’ in French

C'est un peu tard pour nous, malheureusement.

suh eh tar poor noo mah-luh-ruhz-MAHN

[suh eh tar poor noo mah-luh-ruhz-MAHN]

🇫🇷 In France: Adding malheureusement turns a flat "no" into a gracious one. That keeps things friendly when you're about to ask for another day.

Phrase Breakdown

C'est un peu tard pour nous,

suh eh tar poor noo

It's a bit late for us,

Link 'c'est un' as 'sé-tun'. 'Pour nous' sounds like 'poor noo'.

Example

C'est un peu cher pour nous.

It's a bit expensive for us.

Words in this phrase

C'

[suh]

It

Used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

C'est incroyable.

It is incredible.

est

[eh]

is

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

un

peu

tard

[tar]

late

Adverb meaning at a late time; the d is silent.

Example

Il rentre tard.

He comes home late.

pour

[poor]

for

Indicating purpose or reason.

Example

C'est pour toi.

It's for you.

nous

[noo]

us

The stressed pronoun meaning 'us' or 'we' after a preposition like 'avec.'

Example

Les nouvelles recrues déjeunent souvent avec nous.

New hires often have lunch with us.

malheureusement.

mah-luh-ruhz-MAHN

unfortunately.

A long adverb said 'ma-leu-reuz-man'. The final 't' is silent.

Example

Malheureusement, c'est complet.

Unfortunately, it's full.

Words in this phrase

malheureusement

[mah-luh-ruhz-MAHN]

unfortunately

Adverb expressing regret.

Example

Malheureusement, je n'ai pas d'argent.

Unfortunately, I have no money.

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