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s'il vous plaît
/sil vu ple/
please
Passez-moi le sel, s'il vous plaît.
Pass me the salt, please.
formal
A polite expression used to make a request or ask for something.
Pourriez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you help me, please?
Un café, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee, please.
Used with 'vous' to address one or more people formally. In informal contexts, 's'il te plaît' (with 'tu') is used.
Collocations
merci s'il vous plaîtthank you pleases'il vous plaît, asseyez-vousplease, sit down
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 's'il vous plaît' when speaking to strangers, elders, or in professional settings. Use 's'il te plaît' with friends, family, or children.
Gold Rule
Placement in Sentences
In French, 's'il vous plaît' typically comes at the end of a sentence, unlike in English where 'please' often comes at the beginning or end.
Word Origin
From 'si' (if) + 'il' (he) + 'vous' (you, formal) + 'plaît' (pleases, from 'plaire' to please). Literally means 'if it pleases you.'
Usage Notes
Always used at the end of a request or question in French. In writing, it is often abbreviated as 'SVP' or 'svp.'
Word Breakdown
s'
if (contraction of 'si il')
contractionil
he/it
pronounvous
you (formal)
pronounplaît
pleases (from 'plaire')
verbDictionnaire Français-Anglais