Parlez plus lentement
The English phrase "speak slower" is translated into French as Parlez plus lentement.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase plus lentement literally means "more slowly", where plus means "more" and lentement means "slowly".
Which one should you use?
Using plus lentement (more slowly) is more grammatically standard in French than using a single adjective like lent (slow) to modify the verb.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form Parlez plus lentement uses the vous form, making it appropriate for strangers, elders or groups of people. An informal version, Parle plus lentement, is used when speaking to a single person you know well, such as a friend or a child.
Did you know?
- If you find someone is speaking too fast, you might hear the slang expression parler comme un mitrailleur, which means 'to speak like a machine gun'.
- In France, speaking too slowly to a native speaker can sometimes be perceived as condescending, as if you are speaking to a child. It is often more polite to ask them to articuler, which means to enunciate clearly.
- In many French-speaking regions, including parts of West Africa, you might hear people use the word doucement instead of lentement to mean 'slowly'.
Examples in context
- S'il vous plait, parlez plus lentement.Speak slower, please.Tatoeba #482247 by adjusting, translation #749202 by Serhiy
- Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît?Could you please speak more slowly?
- Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement, je vous prie?Could you speak more slowly, I kindly ask you?
- Est-ce que tu peux parler plus lentement, s'il te plaît?Can you speak more slowly, please?
- Peux-tu ralentir un peu, s'il te plaît?Can you slow down a bit, please?
- Parlez plus lentement?Speak slower?
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous parler plus lentement? Je suis en train d'apprendre le françaisExcuse me, could you speak slower? I am learning French
- Je n'ai pas bien compris cette phrase, pouvez-vous la répéter lentement?I didn't understand that sentence well, can you repeat it slowly?
- Parlez plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.Speak more slowly, please.
- Je ne comprends pas, parlez plus lentement.I do not understand, speak more slowly.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is practicing French with Manon.
- GabrielJe ne comprends pas tout, Manon.I don't understand everything, Manon.
- ManonOh, pardon ! Je vais essayer.Oh, sorry! I will try.
- GabrielS'il vous plaît, parlez plus lentement.Please, speak slower.
- ManonC'est mieux comme ça, Gabriel ?Is it better like this, Gabriel?
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
