Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| asseyez-vous s'il vous plaît | formal, plural |
| assieds-toi | informal |
You can use the shortened form asseyez-vous to simply say "sit down," or use the more inviting phrase N'hésitez pas à vous asseoir to mean "Feel free to sit down."
What does it mean word for word?
The verb in the phrase is reflexive, so asseyez-vous literally translates to "sit yourself down." The addition of s'il vous plaît is the standard way to say "please," which literally means "if it pleases you."
Which one should you use?
asseyez-vous s'il vous plaît is the formal and plural form, used when addressing a group or a single person with respect. In contrast, assieds-toi is the informal version used when addressing one person with "tu."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For strangers, superiors or multiple people, use the formal asseyez-vous s'il vous plaît or the very formal Veuillez vous asseoir, s'il vous plaît. A polite middle ground when addressing someone with "vous" is Asseyez-vous, je vous prie, which translates to "Please sit down, I beg you." For friends or family, use the informal Assieds-toi, s'il te plaît.
How does it change in a sentence?
The formal way to express please is s'il vous plaît, which literally means "if it pleases you."
Did you know?
- The verb asseoir is one of the few in French that has two completely different stems for the same conjugation, which is why the formal asseyez-vous and informal assieds-toi look so different.
- Using the informal assieds-toi with a superior or a stranger in France is not just considered rude, but can be perceived as a deliberate social provocation.
- In a formal French dinner setting, it is customary to wait for the host to say asseyez-vous or to physically gesture toward a seat before sitting down.
Examples in context
- Assieds-toi, s'il te plaît.Please sit down.This is useful for practicing the informal assieds-toi.Tatoeba #415607 by qdii, translation #415594 by CM
- Assieds-toi un moment, s'il te plaît.Please sit down for a moment.This shows how to use assieds-toi when adding a duration like "a moment."Tatoeba #5919775 by Aiji, translation #5151941 by AlanF_US
- Assieds-toi sur cette chaise, s'il te plaît.Please sit down on this chair.This demonstrates using assieds-toi with a specific object like a chair.Tatoeba #11249 by dominiko, translation #61333 by CK
Example conversation
A doctor's office waiting room.
- LucasBonjour, asseyez-vous s'il vous plaît.Hello, please sit down.
- LéaMerci beaucoup, monsieur.Thank you very much, sir.
- LucasEst-ce que vous avez mal quelque part ?Do you have pain somewhere?
- LéaOui, j'ai mal au dos.Yes, my back hurts.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “please sit down” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
