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How to Say ‘May I go to the bathroom?’ in French

Je peux aller aux toilettes ?

zhuh puh ah-LAY oh twah-let

[zhuh puh ah-LAY oh twah-let]

🇫🇷 In France: In French schools pupils are expected to ask permission like this. Many teachers prefer that you go during the break if you can.

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux aller

zhuh puh ah-LAY

Can I go

Say 'zhuh puh-z-ah-lay', with a light 'z' linking 'peux' and 'aller'.

Example

Je peux aller dehors ?

Can I go outside?

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.

aller

[ah-LAY]

to go

Infinitive of the verb meaning to go.

Example

Je veux aller au tableau.

I want to go to the board.

aux toilettes ?

oh twah-let

to the bathroom?

Say 'oh twah-let', with your voice rising at the end for a question.

Example

Il est aux toilettes.

He is in the bathroom.

Words in this phrase

aux

[oh]

To the

Used to indicate direction, relation or position.

Example

Elle parle aux enfants.

She talks to the children.

toilettes

[twah-let]

toilets / restrooms

Plural noun meaning toilets or restrooms.

Example

Les toilettes sont au rez-de-chaussée.

The restrooms are on the ground floor.

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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