French · Real conversations
How to say “Could you speak a little louder?” in French
Ask someone to increase their speaking volume.
Pourriez-vous parler un peu plus fort ?
Could you speak a little louder?
The request concerns loudness, rather than speaking speed.
Use it in three situations
At a noisy counter
Pourriez-vous parler un peu plus fort ?
Could you speak a little louder?
During an announcement
Vous pourriez parler un peu plus fort ? Je ne vous entends pas.
Could you speak a little louder, please? I can't hear you.
A face-to-face conversation
Vous pourriez me regarder quand vous parlez ?
Could you face me when you speak?
What to watch for
If you also need slower speech, make that a separate clear request.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine accessibility needs. Say this in French: Could you speak a little louder, please? I can't hear you.
Reveal a sample reply
Vous pourriez parler un peu plus fort ? Je ne vous entends pas.
Could you speak a little louder, please? I can't hear you.
Build a useful exchange
Explain a practical access or communication need.
This expression 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.
