Parlez lentement s'il vous plaît
The English phrase "please speak slowly" is translated into French as Parlez lentement s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for someone to reduce their speed of talking to make it easier to understand.
Which one should you use?
If you want to ask someone to speak even more slowly than they currently are, use plus lentement instead of just lentement.
How does it change in a sentence?
The informal version uses the singular imperative parle and the pronoun te instead of the formal parlez and vous.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the adjective lent (slow) instead of the adverb lentement (slowly) when making this request.
Did you know?
- While parlez is the standard command, French speakers often accompany the request to speak slowly with a palm-down gesture moving horizontally in the air.
- The French word vous is a distant relative of the Russian word вы (vy) and the Italian word voi.
- French has a distinct concept called vouvoiement, which is the social requirement to use vous to maintain a professional or respectful distance.
Examples in context
- S'il vous plaît, parlez lentement. Je ne comprends pas tous les mots.Please speak slowly. I don't understand all the words.
- S'il te plaît, parle lentement. J'essaie de m'améliorer en français.Please speak slowly. I'm trying to improve my French.
- Parlez lentement s'il vous plaît.Please speak slowly.
- Je ne comprends pas, parlez lentement s'il vous plaît.I don't understand, please speak slowly.
Example conversation
Nathan is practicing French with Léa.
- NathanJe suis désolé, je ne comprends pas tout.I am sorry, I don't understand everything.
- LéaAh, je suis désolée, je parle trop vite !Oh, I am sorry, I am speaking too fast!
- NathanParlez lentement s'il vous plaît, Léa.Please speak slowly, Léa.
- LéaD'accord, Nathan, je vais ralentir.Okay, Nathan, I will slow down.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lentement, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
