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Polite French phrases: requests, thanks and encouragement

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose French courtesy phrases for the action you mean. Compare tu and vous requests, merci and je vous remercie, bon courage and bonne chance.

In short

Choose the phrase by its job: s’il vous plaît helps frame a request, merci gives thanks and bon courage encourages effort. Je vous remercie makes the thanks more explicit; it suits a careful exchange. Phrase length alone tells you little about the speaker’s warmth.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A visitor thanking a helpful receptionist at a quiet French service counter.
A courteous exchange gives purpose to je vous remercie. Illustration: Atelier
1

Ask someone to repeat

Use a consistent address form for the same person throughout the request.

YouTu peux répéter, s’il te plaît ?Can you repeat that, please?A request to one person you call tu.
YouVous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?Can you repeat that, please?Use vous for a group too, including a group of friends.
YouPourriez-vous répéter la dernière phrase, s’il vous plaît ?Could you repeat the last sentence, please?The conditional makes the request less direct.
The other personBien sûr, je reprends depuis le début.Of course, I’ll start again from the beginning.
2

Thank someone for an explanation

Both versions thank the person. The longer version puts the act of thanking into a full sentence.

YouMerci pour votre explication.Thank you for your explanation.
YouJe vous remercie pour votre explication.Thank you for your explanation.A more explicit, careful formulation.
The other personJe vous en prie.You’re welcome.
The other personDe rien.You’re welcome.A brief everyday reply.
3

Encourage a friend

Name the activity when it helps. Effort and a hoped-for result often belong to the same event.

The other personJe dois encore répéter toute ma présentation.I still need to rehearse my whole presentation.
YouBon courage pour la répétition !All the best with the rehearsal!Encouragement for the work ahead.
The other personEt demain, je passe l’entretien.And tomorrow I have the interview.
YouBonne chance pour demain !Good luck for tomorrow!A wish for a favourable outcome.
Same action, different wording
PurposeOne person: tuOne person: vous
Please repeat.Tu peux répéter, s’il te plaît ?Vous pouvez répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
Thank you.Je te remercie.Je vous remercie.
You’re welcome.Je t’en prie.Je vous en prie.

Bon courage and bonne chance can both support someone before an interview. The first highlights the effort; the second wishes them success. A friend can say both: Bon courage pour les préparatifs, et bonne chance pour demain ! Choose the emphasis that fits what the person has just told you.

Question 1No account needed
Keep the request in the tu form.Tu peux recommencer, ___ ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

s’il te plaît. The pronoun in the courtesy formula must match the singular familiar address in the question.

Question 2No account needed
A group of friends asks you to speak louder. What does vous refer to in your reply?Vous m’entendez mieux maintenant ?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Several people.. Here the speaker addresses the group. The pronoun expresses plural number.

Question 3No account needed
Your friend faces a long rehearsal. Which phrase directly encourages that effort?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Bon courage pour la répétition !. This wish encourages the work the friend still has to do.

Question 4No account needed
What do these two phrases share?Merci pour votre aide. / Je vous remercie pour votre aide.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They thank someone for help.. Both express thanks. The second states the thanking in a full sentence.

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