je t'en prie
/ʒə t‿ɑ̃ pʁi/
The English phrase "I beg you" is translated into French as je t'en prie.
je t'en prie is used to make an urgent or emotional request for someone to do something. However, it is also a very common way to say "you're welcome" when responding to "merci".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I pray you of it", where je means "I", te means "you", en means "of it" and prie means "pray" or "beg".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase with someone you do not know well or in a formal setting, replace the informal te with the formal vous to say je vous en prie.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʒə t‿ɑ̃ pʁi/
Did you know?
- The verb prier in je t'en prie comes from the Latin 'precari', meaning to entreat or pray for. This is the same root that gave English the word 'precarious', describing a situation that depends on a precarious plea or chance.
- In a formal setting, je vous en prie can be used alone to gesture toward a door or a seat, acting as a verbal equivalent of 'after you'.
- While je t'en prie is common, French also uses je t'en supplie for truly desperate pleas, as prier can sound like a polite request rather than a cry for help.
Examples in context
- Je t'en prie, donne-moi une bouteille !I beg you, give me a bottle!This sentence shows how to use je t'en prie to make an urgent request.Tatoeba #1135635 by sacredceltic, translation #1747326 by belgavox
- Donne-moi ta réponse, je t'en prie.Give me your answer, I beg you.This sentence shows the placement of je t'en prie at the end of a request.Tatoeba #13210437 by menaud, translation #13210446 by menaud
- Écoute-moi, je t'en prie.Listen to me, I beg you.
Example conversation
Léa is trying to leave a party, but Hugo wants her to stay.
- HugoNe pars pas tout de suite, je t'en prie.Don't leave right away, I beg you.
- LéaJe suis vraiment trop fatiguée, Hugo.I am really too tired, Hugo.
- HugoReste encore juste dix minutes.Stay just ten more minutes.
- LéaD'accord, mais seulement dix minutes.Alright, but only ten minutes.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry je t'en prie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
