French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Polite" in French: poli(e)
poli(e)
Polite in French is poli for masculine and polie for feminine. Sois poli means be polite. Formules de politesse are politeness phrases.
Parenting
Dis merci. Sois poli.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce poli(e)
Say it
po-LEE
/pɔ.li/
po-LEE. Soft p; clear ee. Feminine polie sounds the same for many speakers.
"Polite" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| poli / polie | polite Adjective with agreement. | Adjective with agreement. |
| sois poli / sois polie | be polite Reminder. | Reminder. |
| poliment | politely Adverb. | Adverb. |
| formule de politesse | politeness phrase Emails and letters. | Emails and letters. |
How to use poli(e) in real life
- 1Parenting
Dis merci. Sois poli.
Say thank you. Be polite.
Sois poli.
- 2Colleague
Elle est toujours polie avec les clients.
She's always polite with customers.
Polie feminine.
- 3Feedback
Il a refusé, mais poliment.
He refused, but politely.
Poliment from poli.
Mistakes English speakers make with poli(e)
Incorrect: Elle est poli.
Correct: Elle est polie.
Feminine form is polie.
Incorrect: Sois polite.
Correct: Sois poli / sois polie.
Use poli(e), not English polite.
Good to know
French politeness leans on bonjour, s'il vous plaît, and vous with strangers. Calling someone impoli is a real social jab. Email closings are formules de politesse.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Coaching before a visit
ChatPal
Sois poli avec mon oncle, OK ?
Be polite with my uncle, OK?
You
Je serai poli, promis.
I'll be polite, promise.
ChatPal
Dis bonjour. C'est déjà poli.
Say hello. That's already polite.
You
Compris. Bonjour dès l'entrée.
Got it. Hello as soon as we walk in.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Polite" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Polite" in French
How do I say polite?
Poli (m) / polie (f).
How do I say be polite?
Sois poli / sois polie.
How do I say politely?
Poliment.
How do you pronounce poli?
Po-LEE.
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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