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How to Say ‘If it's not too much to ask’ in French

Si ce n'est pas trop demander

see eh pah troh duh-mahn-DAY

[see eh pah troh duh-mahn-DAY]

🇫🇷 In France: Tacking this onto a special request, like a quiet table or a dish without nuts, makes it sound gracious rather than demanding. Staff tend to go out of their way for a request framed this politely.

Phrase Breakdown

Si ce n'est pas

see eh pah

If it isn't

In spoken French it often sounds like 'si s'né pa'.

Example

Si ce n'est pas grave, tant mieux.

If it isn't serious, so much the better.

Words in this phrase

[see]

A condition or supposition.

Example

Si tu le vois, dis-lui bonjour.

If you see him, say hello.

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

trop demander

troh duh-mahn-DAY

too much to ask

Together with the first part, this is a polite set phrase for softening a request.

Example

Une carafe d'eau, si ce n'est pas trop demander.

A jug of water, if it's not too much to ask.

Words in this phrase

trop

[troh]

too much

Excessively.

Example

C'est trop cher.

It's too expensive.

demander

[duh-mahn-DAY]

to ask

Infinitive verb meaning to ask or request.

Example

Tu peux demander l'addition ?

Can you ask for the bill?

Guides for French learners

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.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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