What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of s'il vous plaît (if it pleases you), puis-je (can I) and commander (to order).
Which one should you use?
The phrase s'il vous plaît, puis-je commander ? is a highly polite and formal way to ask to order. In a more casual setting, such as a café, you might use est-ce que je peux commander ? instead of the highly formal puis-je. There are also much more casual versions like S'il te plaît, je peux commander ? or Dis, je peux passer commande ?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The most formal option is s'il vous plaît, puis-je commander ?, where the use of puis-je (the inverted form of je peux) makes the request very polite. Excusez-moi, est-ce que je peux passer une commande, s'il vous plaît ? is also a formal way to ask "Excuse me, can I place an order, please?" For informal situations, you can use S'il te plaît, je peux commander ? or the very casual Dis, je peux passer commande ?
When do people say it?
When entering a place, it is customary and respectful to greet staff by saying Bonjour or Bonsoir (good evening).
Did you know?
- The word commander shares an ancient root with the English word 'command'. Both stem from the Latin commendō, which originally meant to entrust something to someone's care.
- In many French restaurants, using this polite phrase without first saying Bonjour can be perceived as rude. Even a perfectly polite request is seen as an imposition if a greeting is skipped.
- While puis-je is a formal way to say 'can I', it is a grammatical anomaly because puis is a form of the verb pouvoir that only exists in this specific inverted question format.
Examples in context
- S'il vous plaît, puis-je commander un café et un croissant ?Please, can I order a coffee and a croissant?
- Excusez-moi, est-ce que je peux passer une commande, s'il vous plaît ? Je voudrais un plat de poulet.Excuse me, can I place an order, please? I would like a chicken dish.
- S'il te plaît, je peux commander les pâtes ?Please, can I order the pasta?
- Dis, je peux passer commande pour une pizza et une boisson ?Say, can I place an order for a pizza and a drink?
Example conversation
Manon and Lucas are sitting at a restaurant table.
- ManonS'il vous plaît, puis-je commander ?Please, can I order?
- LucasOui, bien sür. Que voulez-vous ?Yes, of course. What would you like?
- ManonJe voudrais un sandwich, merci.I would like a sandwich, thank you.
- LucasC'est noté, je vous apporte ça.Got it, I'll bring that to you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries commander, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
