How to Say ‘Do you speak English?’ in French
Parlez-vous anglais ?
par-lay voo ahn-glay
[par-lay voo ahn-glay]
💬 Usage Tip: The [vous] here shows you are speaking formally or to more than one person. You can reuse the pattern with other verbs: [Parlez-vous espagnol ?]
🇫🇷 In France: This is polite and normal with strangers. Starting in French before asking for English usually lands better than opening in English right away.
Phrase Breakdown
Parlez
[par-lay]
speak
Verb meaning speak; here used in a polite question form.
À l'hôtel, je demande « Parlez-vous anglais ? » à la réception.
At the hotel, I ask “Do you speak English?” at reception.
-vous
[voo]
you
Formal or plural “you,” inverted with the verb in questions.
À l'hôtel, je demande « Parlez-vous anglais ? » à la réception.
At the hotel, I ask “Do you speak English?” at reception.
anglais
[ahn-glay]
English
Can refer to the English language or something English.
À l'hôtel, je demande « Parlez-vous anglais ? » à la réception.
At the hotel, I ask “Do you speak English?” at reception.
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