How to Say ‘Please’ in French
S'il vous plaît
seel eel voo pleh
[seel eel voo pleh]
Phrase Breakdown
S'
[seel]
if
Contracted form in this polite phrase; part of the expression for saying please.
Au restaurant, je dis « S'il vous plaît » pour demander de l'eau.
At the restaurant, I say “Please” to ask for water.
il
[eel]
he / it
A pronoun included in the fixed polite expression “S'il vous plaît.”
Au restaurant, je dis « S'il vous plaît » pour demander de l'eau.
At the restaurant, I say “Please” to ask for water.
vous
[voo]
you
Formal or plural “you,” used for politeness in French.
Au restaurant, je dis « S'il vous plaît » pour demander de l'eau.
At the restaurant, I say “Please” to ask for water.
plaît
[pleh]
pleases
From the verb meaning to please; together the whole phrase means please.
Au restaurant, je dis « S'il vous plaît » pour demander de l'eau.
At the restaurant, I say “Please” to ask for water.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”
Tom H., 38, Chef
“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”
Nina W., 29, Graduate Student
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer