Ask a colleague for help in French: clear, practical phrases

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 23 September 2026 · About the library

Ask for ten minutes, explain the point you need checked, respond to limited availability and confirm the next action in French workplace exchanges.

B1
13 phrases
4 situations
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In short

Ask for help with Tu aurais dix minutes pour… ? or Pourrais-tu… ?, then name the exact task. Finish by saying what you will do afterwards: Je corrigerai le tableau et j’enverrai le dossier. Here are four exchanges to practise with a colleague.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues checking a plain folder together at a shared office desk. — A focused request begins with tu aurais dix minutes. Illustration: Atelier

Ask for a short joint check

You and Malik already use tu. You need help checking two totals.

YouTu aurais dix minutes pour vérifier ces deux totaux avec moi ?Would you have ten minutes to check these two totals with me?Avec moi makes it a joint check.

ColleagueOui, après ma réunion de onze heures.Yes, after my eleven o’clock meeting.

YouParfait. Je prépare le tableau pour onze heures trente.Perfect. I’ll get the table ready for half past eleven.

ColleagueD’accord, à tout à l’heure.OK, see you later.

Show the exact problem

Point to the figures and explain where you are stuck.

YouJe bloque sur le calcul des frais. Tu peux m’expliquer cette formule ?I’m stuck on the calculation of the charges. Can you explain this formula to me?

ColleagueJe peux vérifier les ventes, mais je ne connais pas cette formule.I can check the sales, but I don’t know this formula.

YouD’accord. Vérifions les ventes ensemble. Pour les frais, je demanderai à Samira.OK. Let’s check the sales together. I’ll ask Samira about the charges.

Agree a smaller piece of help

Your colleague has less time than you expected.

YouTu pourrais relire la conclusion avant midi ?Could you reread the conclusion before noon?

ColleagueJ’ai cinq minutes. Je peux vérifier les dates.I have five minutes. I can check the dates.

YouMerci, c’est déjà utile. Je m’occupe du reste.Thanks, that’s already useful. I’ll take care of the rest.

Confirm who sends the file

Close the exchange with a clear next action.

YouSi je comprends bien, tu vérifies les dates et je corrige le tableau.If I understand correctly, you check the dates and I correct the table.

ColleagueExactement. Tu envoies aussi le dossier ?Exactly. Are you sending the file too?

YouOui, je l’enverrai après les corrections. Merci pour ton aide !Yes, I’ll send it after the corrections. Thanks for your help!

How do you ask a colleague for help in French?

Availability + action + detail

Purpose	Phrase
Check availability	Tu aurais dix minutes ?
Name the action	Pourrais-tu vérifier le total ?
Give the deadline	J’en ai besoin avant midi.
Keep responsibility	Je m’occupe des corrections.
Use vous	Pourriez-vous vérifier ces deux chiffres avec moi ?

Pourrais-tu vérifier takes an infinitive after the conditional. The vous version is pourriez-vous vérifier. Keep the concrete detail whichever form you use: two totals, the dates in the conclusion, or one formula. The colleague can then say which part they can help with.