French · Real conversations
Request service naturally in French
In a café or restaurant, a clear order can be courteous without a long introduction. Use a straightforward polite order, a request for an extra item, or a considerate timing phrase.
Three ways to say it
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Place a simple order with the conventional polite wording.
Pourrais-je avoir de l'eau, s'il vous plaît ?
Could I have some water, please?
Ask for an additional item while giving the staff member a clear request.
Quand vous aurez un moment, pourriez-vous nous apporter l'addition ?
When you have a moment, could we have the bill?
Request the bill while acknowledging that the staff member may be busy.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'I would like' expresses a request here, not enjoyment of an imaginary object. A target language may use a conditional, a request verb, or a polite ending rather than translating each English word.
See the difference in context
Ordering at a café
Qu'est-ce que vous souhaitez ?
What would you like?
Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Requesting something else at the table
Vous souhaitez autre chose ?
Can I get you anything else?
Pourrais-je avoir de l'eau, s'il vous plaît ?
Could I have some water, please?
Your turn
Ask for the bill when the staff member has a moment. Use the complete polite request rather than translating 'have' as ownership.
Reveal a sample reply
Quand vous aurez un moment, pourriez-vous nous apporter l'addition ?
When you have a moment, could we have the bill?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
