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How to Say ‘Can I’ in French

Puis-je

pwee zhuh

[pwee zhuh]

💬 Usage Tip: Puis-je flips the usual order to make a polite question: literally "can I?" You can reuse that pattern with other verbs, like dois-je for "must I?".

Phrase Breakdown

Puis

[pwee]

Can I

Used to ask for permission or to express ability to do something.

Example

Puis-je voir la montre?

Can I see the watch?

-je

[zhuh]

Can I

Second part of the phrase 'Puis-je', completing the expression.

Example

Puis-je avoir de l'aide?

Can I have some help?

Guides for French learners

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.Babbel vs Pimsleur: Reading Your Way In or Listening Your Way In?Babbel vs Pimsleur: short structured lessons on screen versus 30-minute audio lessons you answer out loud. Which gets you speaking, and which fits your day.

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