s'il vous plaît non
The English phrase "please no" can be translated into French as s'il vous plaît non.
s'il vous plaît non is a phrase used as a polite way to decline an offer or a request.
Which one should you use?
While s'il vous plaît non is a direct translation of the English "please no", the more idiomatic and standard way to politely decline an offer in French is to use non, merci (no, thank you).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often say s'il vous plaît non because they translate "please no" word-for-word. In natural French, it is much more common to place the negation first, such as saying non, s'il vous plaît or the more common non, merci.
Did you know?
- The word s'il vous plaît literally means 'if it pleases you'. Because it describes a wish for something to happen, using it to say 'no' can feel contradictory to a native speaker.
- In French, there is a significant social risk in choosing the wrong 'you'. Using the informal tu instead of vous when declining a request from a stranger can transform a polite 'no' into a perceived insult.
- The formal 'you' in French, vous, shares a common ancestor with the Russian word вы (vy) and the Italian word voi.
Example conversation
A waiter offers more water to a customer.
- HugoVoulez-vous encore un peu d'eau, Hugo ?Would you like some more water, Hugo?
- LéaS'il vous plaît non, je n'ai plus soif.Please no, I am not thirsty anymore.
- HugoD'accord, voulez-vous le dessert ?All right, would you like the dessert?
- LéaOui, je vais prendre un gâteau.Yes, I will have a cake.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries non, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
