French · Greetings & Essentials
"Please" in French: s'il te plaît
s'il te plaît
Note: formal: s'il vous plaît
Please in French is s'il te plaît with friends, and s'il vous plaît with strangers or groups. Both mean "if it pleases you". Put them at the end of a request.
Asking a friend for water
Tu me passes l'eau, s'il te plaît ?Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce s'il te plaît
Say it
seel tuh PLAY / seel voo PLAY
/sil tə plɛ/, /sil vu plɛ/
Informal: seel tuh PLAY. Formal: seel voo PLAY. The final t in plaît is silent. Keep a light French r-free flow on s'il.
"Please" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| s'il te plaît | please (informal) With one person you call tu: friends, family, children. | With one person you call tu: friends, family, children. |
| s'il vous plaît | please (formal / plural) With strangers, older people, shop staff, or more than one person. | With strangers, older people, shop staff, or more than one person. |
| s'il te plaît / s'il vous plaît ? | please? / would you? A short stand-alone plea, like "pretty please". | A short stand-alone plea, like "pretty please". |
| je vous prie | please (very formal) Written or highly polite speech; rarer in casual talk. | Written or highly polite speech; rarer in casual talk. |
How to use s'il te plaît in real life
- 1Asking a friend for water
Tu me passes l'eau, s'il te plaît ?
Can you pass me the water, please?
Te matches tu. Space before the question mark in French.
- 2Ordering at a café
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
Vous is the safe choice with waiters and shop staff.
- 3Texting your sibling
Réponds vite, s'il te plaît !
Reply quickly, please!
Works in messages the same way as in speech.
Mistakes English speakers make with s'il te plaît
Incorrect: S'il te plaît, monsieur.
Correct: S'il vous plaît, monsieur.
Monsieur calls for vous. Keep te for people you already address as tu.
Incorrect: Please, un ticket.
Correct: Un ticket, s'il vous plaît.
French puts the please phrase with the request, usually at the end, not as the English word please.
Good to know
French politeness leans on s'il vous plaît plus a greeting. In shops, bonjour and s'il vous plaît matter more than long apologies. With friends, s'il te plaît still softens requests without sounding stiff.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Borrowing a charger from a flatmate
ChatPal
Tu as besoin de quelque chose ?
Do you need something?
You
Oui, tu me prêtes ton chargeur, s'il te plaît ?
Yes, can you lend me your charger, please?
ChatPal
Bien sûr. Le voici.
Of course. Here it is.
You
Merci ! Je te le rends ce soir, s'il te plaît attends un peu.
Thanks! I'll give it back tonight—please wait a bit.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Please" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Please" in French
When do I use te and when vous?
Use s'il te plaît with one person you call tu. Use s'il vous plaît with vous people, strangers, or more than one person.
Where does please go in the sentence?
Usually at the end: Un thé, s'il vous plaît. Starting with it is possible but less common.
Is s'il vous plaît only formal?
It is polite, and also the plural form. Even with friends in a group you may hear vous.
How do you pronounce plaît?
Like English "play". The final t is silent.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
