un moment s'il vous plaît
The English phrase "please wait" can be translated into French as un moment s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used as a polite request for someone to stay where they are or hold on for a short time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase un moment s'il vous plaît literally translates to a moment please.
Which one should you use?
You can use un moment s'il te plaît when speaking to a friend or someone you know well. For a more formal tone, you might use Veuillez patienter. or Attendez s'il vous plaît. In informal or colloquial settings, you might say Attends un instant. for "Wait a moment" or Laisse-moi une seconde. to mean "Give me a second".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase un moment s'il vous plaît, you can substitute the word moment with instant to say un instant s'il vous plaît, which means "one moment please".
Did you know?
- The word vous used in un moment s'il vous plaît is a cognate of the Russian word вы 'vy'.
- While un moment s'il vous plaît is polite, the formal command Veuillez patienter is most commonly heard as an automated recording on French phone systems.
Examples in context
- Attendez ici un moment s'il vous plaît.Please wait around for a while.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase un moment s'il vous plaît in the context of waiting around for a while.Tatoeba #1144808 by Wittydev, translation #61371 by CK
- Je vous prie de bien vouloir patienter.I kindly ask you to wait.
- Veuillez patienter, je vais chercher le dossier.Please wait, I am going to get the file.
- Un moment s'il vous plaît, je reviens.One moment please, I'll be right back.
Example conversation
Lucas is helping Emma at a reception desk.
- LucasBonjour, je peux vous aider ?Hello, can I help you?
- EmmaOui, je cherche mon dossier.Yes, I am looking for my file.
- LucasUn moment s'il vous plaît, je regarde.One moment please, I'll check.
- EmmaMerci beaucoup, Lucas.Thank you very much, Lucas.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moment, un, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
