How to Say ‘Can you help me?’ in French
Pouvez-vous m'aider ?
poo-vay voo m eh-day
[poo-vay voo m eh-day]
💬 Usage Tip: [M'aider] is really [me aider], but [me] shortens to [m'] before a vowel. The same thing happens in [m'appeler] and [m'excuser].
Phrase Breakdown
Pouvez
[poo-vay]
can / are able to
Verb form used in polite questions to ask if someone can do something.
Si je suis perdu, je demande « Pouvez-vous m'aider ? ».
If I am lost, I ask “Can you help me?”
-vous
[voo]
you
Formal or plural “you,” used in polite inverted questions.
Si je suis perdu, je demande « Pouvez-vous m'aider ? ».
If I am lost, I ask “Can you help me?”
m'
[m]
me
Shortened object pronoun meaning me before a vowel sound.
Si je suis perdu, je demande « Pouvez-vous m'aider ? ».
If I am lost, I ask “Can you help me?”
aider
[eh-day]
to help
Verb meaning to help.
Si je suis perdu, je demande « Pouvez-vous m'aider ? ».
If I am lost, I ask “Can you help me?”
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