Which one should you use?
attendez, s'il vous plaît is the standard polite form, while attends, s'il te plaît is the version used for someone you know well. Un instant, s'il te plaît is an informal way to say "one moment, please" and un instant, s'il vous plaît is a common alternative used to ask someone to wait a brief moment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Attendez, s'il vous plaît is a formal way to say "wait, please", making the request suitable for strangers or professional settings. In contrast, use attends, s'il te plaît when speaking to a friend, a child or someone you know well. The version un instant, s'il te plaît is also used in informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word attendez is the imperative second-person plural or formal singular form of the verb attendre.
Did you know?
- While attendez means 'wait', the verb attendre also means 'to expect' in French.
- While English speakers use 'please' as a universal polite add-on, the French use of s'il vous plaît literally translates to 'if it pleases you'.
- In France, saying attendez to a stranger without adding s'il vous plaît can be perceived as a command or an order rather than a request.
Examples in context
- Attendez, s'il vous plaîtWait, please
- Attendez, s'il vous plaît, j'ai oublié mes clés.Wait, please, I forgot my keys.
- Attendez, s'il vous plaît, la porte est ouverte.Wait, please, the door is open.
- Attendez, s'il vous plaît, je cherche mon téléphone.Wait, please, I am looking for my phone.
Example conversation
Emma is trying to catch up with Nathan at a train station.
- EmmaNathan, attendez, s'il vous plaît !Nathan, wait, please!
- NathanAh, bonjour Emma. Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?Ah, hello Emma. What is happening?
- EmmaJ'ai trouvé ton sac sur le banc.I found your bag on the bench.
- NathanMerci beaucoup d'être revenue !Thank you so much for coming back!
