asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît
The French phrase for "please sit" is asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used as a polite request to ask someone to take a seat.
What does it mean word for word?
The term asseyez-vous is the reflexive form of the verb asseoir, which literally means "sit yourself".
Which one should you use?
While asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît is the standard polite form, you should use assieds-toi, s'il te plaît when speaking to a single person you know well, such as a friend or a child.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form asseyez-vous is used when addressing either a group of people or a single person in a formal context.
Did you know?
- While asseyez-vous is polite, a French host might simply say je vous en prie while gesturing to a chair, making the actual verb for 'sit' unnecessary.
- The verb asseoir is famously one of the most irregular verbs in French. Even native speakers often struggle with whether to use the stem assey- or assied- in different tenses.
- The 'vous' in asseyez-vous is an ancient linguistic survivor that shares its DNA with the Italian voi and the Russian вы.
Examples in context
- Asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.Please sit down.This sentence demonstrates a direct request to sit down using asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.Tatoeba #14106 by sacredceltic, translation #415594 by CM
- Mesdames et Messieurs, asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.Ladies and gentlemen, please sit down.This sentence shows how to address a group of people formally using asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.Tatoeba #3258608 by Aiji, translation #456287 by lukaszpp
- Veuillez vous asseoir, s'il vous plaît!Please be seated
- Je vous en prie, asseyez-vous!Please, have a seat!
- Assieds-toi, s'il te plaît!Sit down, please!
- Installez-vous pour dîner, s'il vous plaît!Please take a seat to dine.
- Asseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît, pour commencer la réunion.Please sit down to start the meeting.
Example conversation
Hugo welcomes Léa into his office.
- HugoBonjour Léa, entrez !Hello Léa, come in!
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Hugo.Thank you very much, Hugo.
- HugoAsseyez-vous, s'il vous plaît.Please sit down.
- LéaC'est gentil, merci.That's kind, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
