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How to Say ‘Can I ask you a question?’ in French

Je peux te poser une question ?

zhuh puh tuh poh-ZAY ewn kes-TYOHN

[zhuh puh tuh poh-ZAY ewn kes-TYOHN]

💬 Usage Tip: French asks a question with poser "to put", not demander. Te goes before the verb. With someone you call vous, say vous poser.

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux te poser

zhuh puh tuh poh-ZAY

Can I ask you

'Poser une question' means to ask a question. 'Peux' has a rounded 'euh' sound.

Example

Je peux te poser un problème ?

Can I put a problem to you?

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.

[tuh]

you (to you)

Informal indirect object pronoun; with 'aller' it means something suits you.

Example

Ce pull te va bien.

This sweater suits you.

poser

[poh-ZAY]

to ask (a question)

Literally 'to put/place'; with 'une question' it means to ask.

Example

Tu peux poser ton sac ici.

You can put your bag here.

une question ?

ewn kes-TYOHN

a question?

'Question' sounds like 'kes-tyon', with a nasal ending. Let your voice rise for the question.

Example

J'ai une question.

I have a question.

Words in this phrase

une

[ewn]

Indefinite article, feminine singular.

Example

Elle veut une pomme.

She wants an apple.

question

[kes-TYOHN]

question

Something you ask; feminine noun.

Example

J'ai une question.

I have a question.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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