Which one should you use?
While N'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions is a standard polite option, you may encounter other variations. For instance, N'hésitez pas à me contacter si vous avez des questions specifically adds the instruction to contact you and Si vous avez la moindre question, veuillez m'en informer uses a slightly different structure to mean "If you have any questions, please inform me."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form N'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions is appropriate for professional or formal settings. For a highly formal professional context, such as an email, you can use Je reste à votre disposition pour toute question, which means "I remain at your disposal for any questions". Conversely, in informal situations when speaking to a friend or a close colleague, you should use the informal N'hésite pas si tu as des questions or Si tu te poses des questions, n'hésite pas à me demander.
Did you know?
- In French, the phrase se poser une question (to ask oneself a question) literally translates to 'to place a question on oneself', treating the question like a physical object being set down.
- The word pas in N'hésitez pas literally means 'a step'. In early French, speakers added nouns like 'a drop' or 'a crumb' to negatives to emphasize that not even a tiny amount of an action occurred.
- The formal vous used in this phrase shares a common ancestor with the Russian pronoun вы (vy) and the Italian voi, tracing back to ancient Proto-Italic roots.
Examples in context
- N'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions sur ce projet.Don't hesitate if you have any questions about this project.
- N'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions concernant la facture.Don't hesitate if you have any questions regarding the invoice.
Example conversation
Emma is finishing a project briefing for Nathan.
- EmmaVoilà le plan du projet, Nathan.Here is the project plan, Nathan.
- NathanMerci, je vais regarder ça tout de suite.Thanks, I will look at it right away.
- EmmaParfait, n'hésitez pas si vous avez des questions.Perfect, let me know if you have any questions.
- NathanC'est noté, merci beaucoup Emma.Noted, thank you very much Emma.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries des, pas, si, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.