est-ce que je peux t'appeler ?
Can I call you in French is est-ce que je peux t'appeler ?, the informal version for someone you know well.
Use it with friends, family or people your age. The verb appeler means to call.
What does it mean word for word?
est-ce que je peux literally means is it that I can. est-ce que turns the sentence into a question.
Which one should you use?
With a stranger, a superior or a group, switch to vous and say est-ce que je peux vous appeler ? A more formal way to ask is Puis-je vous appeler?
How does it change in a sentence?
t' is te, you, shortened before the vowel of appeler.
Did you know?
- In French, the verb appeler can also mean 'to name', so if you ask Comment puis-je t'appeler?, you are actually asking 'What may I call you?' regarding their name.
- The word appeler shares an ancestral root with the English word 'appeal', as both involve a summons or a calling to someone.
- Using the formal version Puis-je vous appeler? can carry a social weight beyond mere politeness. In professional settings, it can signal that the caller intends to have a serious discussion rather than a casual chat.
Examples in context
- Quand est-ce que je peux t'appeler ?When can I call you?Quand at the start turns it into when can I call you.Tatoeba #1187864 by Eldad, translation #1187830 by Eldad
- Puis-je vous appeler demain pour discuter de notre réunion?Can I call you tomorrow to discuss our meeting?
- Est-ce que je peux t'appeler ce soir pour organiser notre sortie?Can I call you tonight to plan our outing?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
