French Expression · Beginner
s'il vous plaît
please (formal)
Pronunciation: seel voo PLEH
Meaning
A polite phrase used when making a request or asking for something from someone you address formally, or a group of people.
Example
S'il vous plaît, pouvez-vous me donner le menu ?
Please, can you give me the menu?
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice s'il vous plaît out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a beginner-level French expression.