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French Phrases
How to Say Please in French Download Article Co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga and Jennifer Mueller, JD
Last Updated: October 15, 2025 References
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Speaking Formally
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This article was co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Lorenzo is a native French speaker and French language connoisseur. He has many years of experience as a translator, writer and reviewer. He is also a composer, pianist, and globe-trotter, who has been travelling the world on a shoestring for almost 30 years with a backpack. This article has been viewed 41,494 times.
French can be a more polite and formal language than English. When you start learning French, you'll first learn how to say things like "please," "thank you," and "you're welcome." In keeping with the formality of French, you'll say "please" differently to strangers than you would to friends. When speaking to a stranger, say "s'il vous plait" (sill voo play) to mean "please."[1]XResearch source
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Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
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1 Use formal speech when talking to strangers. In French, there are two different ways of saying "you." The vous form is the more formal version. When you're speaking to people you don't know, especially adults or people older than you, vous is appropriate.[2]XResearch source
Vous is also the plural form of "you" in French, so you would use it when addressing several people, regardless of their ages.
Frequently you'll refer to someone as "monsieur" or "madame" if you're using the formal vous pronoun singularly.
2 Say "s'il vous plait" (sill voo play) to mean "please." The phrase "s'il vous plait" can be translated to mean "If you please." It literally means "if it pleases you." The word plait is the conjugated form of the verb plaire, which means "to please" or "to like."[3]XResearch source
For example, you might say "Quelle heure est-il, s'il vous plait?" to mean "What time is it, please?"
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3 Use "je vous en prie" (zheh vooz-ehn pree) for more intensity. The phrase "je vous en prie" is more accurately translated to "I beg of you." Just as such a phrase would be used in English, it's generally reserved for extreme, even desperate situations.[4]XResearch source
For example, you might say "Ne me dénoncez pas, je vous en prie!" or "Don't report me, please!" This could also be translated as "Don't report me, I beg of you!"
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Talking to Friends and Family
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1 Use tu with people you know. The tu form of you is a casual, familiar form of the pronoun. It is only singular. Use it when talking to a friend or family member, or someone your age or younger.[5]XResearch source
When in doubt, use vous with strangers in a social situation. They will correct you if you're wrong, but err on the side of politeness and formality.
2 Say "s'il te plait" (sill tuh play) to mean "please." Just because you're speaking informally doesn't mean your manners disappear. The object pronoun te means you are speaking to a single person who is a contemporary or familiar to you.[6]XResearch source
For example, you might say "S'il te plait, oú est le téléphone?" or "Please, where is the telephone?"
3 Say "s'te play" (stuh play) when speaking quickly. Native French speakers often blend the first syllables of "s'il te plait" together, making the phrase two syllables instead of three. Saying please this way will make you sound more natural.[7]XResearch source
4 Use "je t'en prie" (zheh tehn pree) in more intense situations. The phrase "je t'en prie" is more literally translated as "I beg of you," so generally you want to save it for serious matters. With the tu form of address, however, it's sometimes used jokingly among friends.[8]XResearch source
For example, you might say "Je t'en prie, écoute-moi!" or "Please listen to me!" This could also be translated as "I beg of you, listen to me!"
"Je t'en prie" can also be translated as "by all means." For example: "Amène-le, je'ten prie," or "bring him along, by all means."
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Question Veuillez-vous - what tense and mood is this in French? Community Answer This is formal mood, in the imperative. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1
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Tips
The phrases "je vous en prie" and "je t'en prie" are also used in French to say "you're welcome." This can be confusing for English speakers, but you may hear it from native French speakers.[9]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
In Belgium, "s'il vous plait" or "s'il te plait" is also used to mean "you're welcome."[10]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
When texting in French, you may see the abbreviations "STP" or "SVP" as shorthand for "s'il te plait" or "s'il vous plait." You also may see SVP written on signs.[11]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Lorenzo Garriga French Translator & Native Speaker This article was co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Lorenzo is a native French speaker and French language connoisseur. He has many years of experience as a translator, writer and reviewer. He is also a composer, pianist, and globe-trotter, who has been travelling the world on a shoestring for almost 30 years with a backpack. This article has been viewed 41,494 times. 18 votes - 54% Co-authors: 4Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 41,494 Categories: French PhrasesArticle SummaryX
To say “please” in French, use, “s’il vous plaît,” which literally translates to “if it pleases you.” If you’re speaking informally to friends or family, you can say, “s’il te plaît.” When you want to add intensity to your request, say, “je vous en prie,” which means, “I beg of you.” Alternatively, try using, “s’te play” when you’re speaking quickly, which can make you sound more natural and like a native French speaker. For tips on how to say, “please” in a joking way among friends, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Lorenzo Garriga French Translator & Native Speaker 18 votes - 54% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 4Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 41,494
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Download Article Co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga and Jennifer Mueller, JD 
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Co-authored by: Lorenzo Garriga French Translator & Native Speaker This article was co-authored by Lorenzo Garriga and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Lorenzo is a native French speaker and French language connoisseur. He has many years of experience as a translator, writer and reviewer. He is also a composer, pianist, and globe-trotter, who has been travelling the world on a shoestring for almost 30 years with a backpack. This article has been viewed 41,494 times. 18 votes - 54% Co-authors: 4 Updated: October 15, 2025 Views: 41,494 Categories: French Phrases Article SummaryX
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1 Use formal speech when talking to strangers. In French, there are two different ways of saying "you." The vous form is the more formal version. When you're speaking to people you don't know, especially adults or people older than you, vous is appropriate.[2] 
2 Say "s'il vous plait" (sill voo play) to mean "please." The phrase "s'il vous plait" can be translated to mean "If you please." It literally means "if it pleases you." The word plait is the conjugated form of the verb plaire, which means "to please" or "to like."[3] 
3 Use "je vous en prie" (zheh vooz-ehn pree) for more intensity. The phrase "je vous en prie" is more accurately translated to "I beg of you." Just as such a phrase would be used in English, it's generally reserved for extreme, even desperate situations.[4] 
1 Use tu with people you know. The tu form of you is a casual, familiar form of the pronoun. It is only singular. Use it when talking to a friend or family member, or someone your age or younger.[5] 
2 Say "s'il te plait" (sill tuh play) to mean "please." Just because you're speaking informally doesn't mean your manners disappear. The object pronoun te means you are speaking to a single person who is a contemporary or familiar to you.[6] 
3 Say "s'te play" (stuh play) when speaking quickly. Native French speakers often blend the first syllables of "s'il te plait" together, making the phrase two syllables instead of three. Saying please this way will make you sound more natural.[7] 
4 Use "je t'en prie" (zheh tehn pree) in more intense situations. The phrase "je t'en prie" is more literally translated as "I beg of you," so generally you want to save it for serious matters. With the tu form of address, however, it's sometimes used jokingly among friends.[8] 
Community Answer This is formal mood, in the imperative. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1 
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