Parlez lentement
The English phrase "speak slowly" is translated into French as Parlez lentement.
If you want to ask someone to speak even more slowly than they currently are, you can say Parlez plus lentement by adding plus before the adverb.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Parlez lentement is the polite or plural form. In casual conversation, speakers often use the colloquial phrase Parlez plus doucement, where doucement literally means "softly" or "gently", to mean "slowly" when asking someone to slow down. For an informal way to say "Speak more slowly, please", you can use Parle moins vite, s'il te plaît.
How does it change in a sentence?
Parle lentement is the informal form used when speaking to a single person you know well or a child, whereas Parlez lentement is the polite or plural form. Additionally, if you want to ask someone informally "Can you slow down a little, please?", you can say Tu peux ralentir un peu, s'il te plaît?
Did you know?
- When someone is speaking too fast, a French person might use the verb ralentir, which is used for braking a car. Using this in a conversation treats the flow of speech like a physical vehicle that needs to decelerate.
- To ask someone to be 'clear' rather than just 'slow', French speakers use distinctement, which focuses on the separation of sounds rather than the tempo.
- If you are frustrated by someone's speed, telling them Parlez plus lentement can sound quite formal and almost clinical, potentially creating a social distance.
Examples in context
- Parlez lentement, je vous prie.Speak slowly, please.This sentence shows a polite way to ask someone to speak slowly.Tatoeba #1742033 by sacredceltic, translation #514834 by blay_paul
- Parlez lentement et distinctement.Speak slowly and clearly.This sentence shows how to ask someone to speak both slowly and clearly.Tatoeba #560634 by sacredceltic, translation #30129 by CK
- Parlez lentement !Speak slowly!This sentence provides an emphatic way to ask someone to speak slowly.Tatoeba #8984598 by Micsmithel, translation #2425844 by bionicboy
- Je suis désolé, pouvez-vous parler lentement, s'il vous plaît?I'm sorry, can you speak slowly, please?
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous répéter plus lentement, s'il vous plaît? Je n'ai pas bien compris.Excuse me, could you repeat more slowly, please? I didn't quite understand.
- Hey, peux-tu parler moins vite, s'il te plaît? Je ne comprends pas très bien.Hey, can you speak more slowly, please? I don't understand very well.
- Dis, tu peux ralentir un peu, s'il te plaît? J'ai du mal à suivre.Hey, can you slow down a little, please? I'm having trouble keeping up.
- Es-tu capable de me parler plus lentement? Je ne comprends pas tout.Are you able to speak more slowly to me? I don't understand everything.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is practicing her French with Nathan.
- LéaNathan, parlez lentement, s'il vous plaît.Nathan, please speak slowly.
- NathanD'accord, est-ce que c'est mieux ?Okay, is this better?
- LéaOui, merci beaucoup.Yes, thank you very much.
- NathanPas de problème, Léa.No problem, Léa.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
