écoutez s'il vous plaît
The English phrase "please listen" is translated into French as écoutez s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is a polite request for someone or a group of people to pay attention to what is being said. While écoutez s'il vous plaît is a standard way to make this request, you may also use the more professional or highly formal Accordez-moi votre attention, je vous prie, which means "Please grant me your attention."
Which one should you use?
The standard request is écoutez s'il vous plaît, but using only écoutez without the addition of "s'il vous plaît" can sound like a direct command or an order rather than a polite request. For even more formal situations, such as when begging someone to listen, you can use Je vous en prie, écoutez, which means "I beg you, please listen."
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a group of people or a single person in a formal context, use the form écoutez s'il vous plaît. If you are speaking to one person you know well or a child, use the singular imperative écoute instead of écoutez.
Did you know?
- The word écoute can be used as a noun to describe a wiretap or electronic surveillance, such as une écoute téléphonique.
- The phrase s'il vous plaît literally asks 'if it pleases you', reflecting a historical habit of framing requests as a matter of the other person's will.
- The root of écoutez is the same one found in the English word 'acoustic', both originating from the Greek word for 'hearing'.
Examples in context
- Écoutez s'il vous plaît quand je parle !Please listen when I'm speaking!This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase écoutez s'il vous plaît.Tatoeba #6904546 by felix63, translation #6905966 by kaiperkins271
- Écoutez s'il vous plaît les instructions.Please listen to the instructions.
Example conversation
Gabriel is trying to get Manon's attention in a crowded room.
- GabrielManon, écoutez s'il vous plaît !Manon, please listen!
- ManonOui Gabriel, je t'écoute.Yes Gabriel, I am listening.
- GabrielLe train part dans cinq minutes.The train leaves in five minutes.
- ManonOh, on doit se dépêcher !Oh, we must hurry!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
