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How to Say ‘Can I let you know by email, or is it better to call?’ in French

Je peux vous prévenir par mail, ou il vaut mieux appeler ?

zhuh puh voo pray-vuh-NEER pahr MEHL oo eel voh myuh ah-PLAY

[zhuh puh voo pray-vuh-NEER pahr MEHL oo eel voh myuh ah-PLAY]

🇫🇷 In France: For last-minute changes, many restaurants prefer a phone call because emails may not be read before service. Asking which they prefer is perfectly normal.

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux vous prévenir

zhuh puh voo pray-vuh-NEER

I can let you know

'Prévenir' means to inform in advance.

Example

Je peux vous prévenir à l'avance.

I can let you know in advance.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

peux

[puh]

can

Form of pouvoir meaning to be able to or can.

Example

Je peux vous présenter mes compétences en quelques minutes.

I can present my skills to you in a few minutes.

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

prévenir

[pray-vuh-NEER]

to let know

To inform or warn someone in advance.

Example

Préviens-moi si tu arrives tard.

Let me know if you're arriving late.

par mail,

pahr MEHL

by email,

Slight pause after the comma before offering the alternative.

Example

Je vous réponds par mail.

I'll answer you by email.

Words in this phrase

par

[pahr]

After 'commencer', it introduces the first step.

Example

Commence par lire.

Start by reading.

mail

[MEHL]

Informal French word for email, often in adresse mail.

Example

Envoyez-moi un mail demain.

Send me an email tomorrow.

ou il vaut mieux

oo eel voh myuh

or is it better

'Ou' means 'or'. It flows into 'il vaut mieux': 'ou-il-vo-mieu'.

Example

On y va à pied, ou il vaut mieux prendre le bus ?

Shall we walk, or is it better to take the bus?

Words in this phrase

[oo]

Joins two alternatives.

Example

Vin ou bière ?

Wine or beer?

[eel]

there / it

Part of il y a, meaning there is or there are.

Example

Il y a aussi le cobra dans cette séance.

There is also cobra pose in this session.

vaut

[voh]

is worth

From 'valoir'; 'il vaut mieux' means it's better to.

Example

Il vaut mieux réserver.

It's better to book.

mieux

[myuh]

better

Comparative of 'bien'.

Example

Je me sens mieux.

I feel better.

appeler ?

ah-PLAY

to call?

Rising intonation ends the question.

Example

Je dois appeler le restaurant ?

Should I call the restaurant?

Words in this phrase

appeler

[ah-PLAY]

to call

Infinitive verb meaning to phone someone or call out to them.

Example

Je vais appeler le restaurant.

I'm going to call the restaurant.

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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