How to Say ‘Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.’ in French
Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard.
mehr-see duh noo ah-pluh-ray see voo ah-vay ploo duh kanz mee-newt duh ruh-tar
[mehr-see duh noo ah-pluh-ray see voo ah-vay ploo duh kanz mee-newt duh ruh-tar]
💬 Usage Tip: [Merci de + infinitive] is a common polite instruction in French, softer than a direct command. It works well in service contexts: [Merci de confirmer], [merci de prévenir].
🇫🇷 In France: In France, calling if you are running late for a reservation is genuinely expected, especially at smaller restaurants. If you do not call, they may release the table once the delay passes their stated limit.
Phrase Breakdown
Merci de nous appeler
mehr-see duh noo ah-pluh-ray
Please call us
A polite request asking the customer to phone.
Merci de nous appeler avant 18 heures.
Please call us before 6 p.m.
Words in this phrase
Merci
[mehr-see]
thank you / please
Used here as a polite way to say please.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « Merci » rend la phrase polie.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "Merci" makes the sentence polite.
de
[duh]
of
Connects the time amount with retard.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « de » relie la durée au nom suivant.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "de" links the duration to the following noun.
nous
[noo]
us
Object pronoun meaning us.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « nous » désigne l'établissement.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "nous" refers to the establishment.
appeler
[ah-pluh-ray]
to call
Infinitive meaning to call on the phone.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « appeler » signifie téléphoner.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "appeler" means to phone.
Si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard.
see voo ah-vay ploo duh kanz mee-newt duh ruh-tar
If you are more than fifteen minutes late.
Sets the condition under which the caller should contact them.
Prévenez-nous si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard.
Let us know if you are more than fifteen minutes late.
Words in this phrase
si
[see]
if
Introduces the condition under which the action applies.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « si » ajoute la condition.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "si" adds the condition.
vous
[voo]
you
Polite or plural subject pronoun.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « vous » s'adresse aux clients.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "vous" addresses the customers.
avez
[ah-vay]
have
Verb form from avoir used here in the expression avoir du retard.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « avez » exprime l'idée d'avoir du retard.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "avez" expresses the idea of being late.
plus
[ploo]
more
In plus de, it means more than.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « plus » compare une durée plus grande.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "plus" compares a greater duration.
de
[duh]
of
Connects the time amount with retard.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « de » relie la durée au nom suivant.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "de" links the duration to the following noun.
quinze
[kanz]
fifteen
The number fifteen.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « quinze » indique le nombre de minutes.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "quinze" indicates the number of minutes.
minutes
[mee-newt]
minutes
Units of time in plural form.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « minutes » mesure le retard.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "minutes" measures the delay.
de
[duh]
of
Connects the time amount with retard.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « de » relie la durée au nom suivant.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "de" links the duration to the following noun.
retard
[ruh-tar]
lateness / delay
Noun meaning lateness or delay.
Dans « Merci de nous appeler si vous avez plus de quinze minutes de retard. », « retard » décrit l'arrivée tardive.
In "Please call us if you are more than fifteen minutes late.", "retard" describes arriving late.
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