s'il vous plaît
/sil vu plɛ/A polite way to ask for something or to make a request, equivalent to 'please' in English.
Pourriez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you help me, please?
Passez-moi le sel, s'il vous plaît.
Pass me the salt, please.
This phrase is used to soften requests and is essential for polite communication in French.
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Related Phrases
💡Pro Tip
Politeness in French
In French, omitting 's'il vous plaît' can make a request sound abrupt or rude. Always include it in formal settings.
⚡Gold Rule
Formal vs. Informal
Use 's'il vous plaît' with 'vous' (formal) and 's'il te plaît' with 'tu' (informal).
📖Word Origin
Derived from the contraction of 'si il' (if he) + 'vous' (you) + 'plaît' (pleases), literally meaning 'if it pleases you'.
📝Usage Notes
Always used at the end of a sentence in formal contexts. In informal contexts, 's'il te plaît' (with 'te' instead of 'vous') is used.