Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| s'il vous plaît | /s‿il vu plɛ/ /s‿ju plɛ/ |
formal |
| s'il te plaît | /s‿il tə plɛ/ /s‿tə plɛ/ |
informal |
| prière de | /pʁi.jɛʁ də/ | with infinitive |
The phrase is used as an interjection to make a polite request. You can also use the verb plaire, which means to make happy or satisfy, as a related form.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase s'il vous plaît literally translates to 'if it pleases you', while s'il te plaît literally translates to 'if it pleases thee'.
Which one should you use?
Use s'il te plaît when addressing one person informally, such as a friend or a child. Use s'il vous plaît when addressing someone formally or when addressing a group of people, including when addressing a single person in a polite manner.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
s'il te plaît is used in informal settings. s'il vous plaît is the formal version. prière de is a highly formal expression typically used in written notices, signs or very formal instructions rather than in spoken conversation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal expression prière de must be followed by an infinitive verb. For example, you might see prière de ne pas fumer (please do not smoke).
How do you pronounce it?
/s‿il vu plɛ/
Did you know?
- In France, using s'il vous plaît when you should use s'il te plaît can sometimes create a social distance that feels cold or overly stiff.
- In a restaurant, a French speaker might simply say s'il vous plaît to get a waiter's attention, using it as a call rather than as part of a request.
- The English word 'prayer' and the French word prière share the same Latin ancestor, meaning a request or a plea.
Examples in context
- S'il te plaît !Please.This shows how to use the informal s'il te plaît.Tatoeba #1142721 by sacredceltic, translation #393357 by shanghainese
- S'il vous plaît !Please!This shows how to use the formal s'il vous plaît.Tatoeba #8304724 by Micsmithel, translation #7825834 by tane
- Vote s'il te plaît.Please vote.This shows the use of s'il te plaît within a request.Tatoeba #10105756 by Micsmithel, translation #10093654 by Nylez
- Un café, s'il vous plaît.A coffee, please.
- Bien sûr, pourriez-vous me suivre s'il vous plaît?Of course, could you follow me, please?
- Bien sûr, s'il te plaît.Of course, please.
- 1745 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A customer is ordering coffee at a cafe.
- ChloéUn café, s'il vous plaît.A coffee, please.
- HugoOui, tout de suite, Madame.Yes, right away, Ma'am.
- ChloéMerci beaucoup, Monsieur.Thank you very much, Sir.
- HugoJe vous en prie.You are welcome.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please” translations and entries s'il vous plaît, s'il te plaît, prière de, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, prière, s'il vous plaît, te, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
