Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| avec plaisir | /a.vɛk plɛ.ziʁ/ /a.vɛk ple.ziʁ/ |
| volontiers | /vɔ.lɔ̃.tje/ |
Both phrases are used to express that someone is doing something willingly or without argument. Avec plaisir is a common, polite way to accept an invitation or a favor. Volontiers is an adverb used to express a similar sentiment of willingness.
Which one should you use?
While they share the same sentiment, they are used differently in a sentence. Avec plaisir is a prepositional phrase often used as a direct response to an invitation or a request. In contrast, volontiers is an adverb more commonly used within a sentence to describe how an action is performed.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase avec plaisir is invariable, meaning it does not change regardless of the gender or number of the subject or the object.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.vɛk plɛ.ziʁ/
When do people say it?
When someone offers you something or invites you somewhere, responding with Avec plaisir ! is a standard, polite way to accept.
Did you know?
- The word avec is essentially a condensed version of the Latin phrase 'apud hŏque', which literally means 'near this'.
- If you use the word volontaire instead of volontiers, you are switching from describing how you do something to describing a person's character.
Examples in context
- Oui, avec plaisir !Yes, with pleasure.This example shows how to use avec plaisir as a direct response.Tatoeba #2131509 by sacredceltic, translation #2130380 by AlanF_US
- Elle nous aida avec plaisir.She helped us with pleasure.This example demonstrates the phrase being used to describe how someone helped.Tatoeba #1283148 by sacredceltic, translation #13890463 by rul
- J'ai lu le roman avec plaisir.I read the novel with pleasure.This example shows the phrase used to describe how an action like reading was performed.Tatoeba #8571221 by Aiji, translation #7946829 by AlanF_US
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are in a cafe.
- LéaTu peux me passer le sucre ?Can you pass me the sugar?
- HugoBien sûr, avec plaisir.Of course, with pleasure.
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Hugo.Thank you very much, Hugo.
- HugoDe rien, Léa.You're welcome, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “with pleasure” translations and entries avec plaisir, volontiers, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries avec, plaisir, volontiers, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
