Puis-je entrer ?
The English phrase 'may I come in' is translated into French as Puis-je entrer ?
This phrase is a polite request used to ask for permission to enter a room or a building.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb entrer means 'to enter' or 'to come in'.
Which one should you use?
While Puis-je entrer ? is a highly formal way to ask the question, Est-ce que je peux entrer ? is a more common and standard way to ask for the same thing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to express this depending on the situation. For formal requests, you can use Puis-je entrer, s'il vous plaît?, Est-ce que je peux entrer, s'il vous plaît? or Pourrais-je entrer, s'il vous plaît? For informal situations, such as when speaking with friends or peers, you can use the informal versions Est-ce que je peux entrer? or Je peux entrer?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Puis-je is a specific inversion of je peux that is used exclusively for formal questions.
Did you know?
- If you are knocking on a door, it is much more common in France to simply say Bonjour ? rather than asking for permission to enter.
- The French language has a distinct difference between entrer and rentrer, where the latter often implies returning home or entering a place one has been before.
- The word entrer is used in the French expression entrer en matière, which means to get to the heart of a subject or start a discussion.
Examples in context
- Madame, puis-je entrer ?Madam, may I come in?
Example conversation
Hugo arrives at Léa's office for a meeting.
- HugoPuis-je entrer ?May I come in?
- LéaOui, entrez, Hugo.Yes, come in, Hugo.
- HugoMerci beaucoup.Thank you very much.
- LéaDe rien, asseyez-vous.You're welcome, sit down.
