Language/French/Vocabulary/Be-Polite

French Vocabulary - Be Polite

Hi French learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to be polite in French. As you may already know, being polite is essential in French culture. It is important to use polite expressions such as "please" and "thank you" in everyday conversations.

Polite Expressions

Some of the basic polite expressions in French are:

mɛʁ.si |Thank you |-

sil vu plɛ |Please |-

ɛk.sky.ze mwa |Excuse me |-

paʁ.dɔ̃ |Sorry / Pardon me |-

ʒə vu zɑ̃ pʁi |You're welcome / My pleasure |} The above expressions are most commonly used in everyday situations such as asking for something, thanking someone, or apologizing. Here are some additional polite expressions that can come in handy: bɔn ʒuʁ.ne |Have a nice day |- bɔn a.pe.ti |Enjoy your meal |- a bjɛ̃to |See you soon |- o ʁə.vwaʁ |Goodbye |- bɔn swa.ʁe |Have a nice evening |} Activity Person 1: Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît ? (Excuse me, can you please help me?) Person 2: Oui, bien sûr. Je vous en prie. (Yes, of course. You're welcome.) Politeness in Verbs In addition to polite expressions, it is important to use polite verb forms when addressing someone formally. Typically, we use the "vous" form instead of "tu" to address someone in a formal manner. For example, instead of saying "tu es" (you are) to someone you don't know well or someone who is your elder, you would say "vous êtes" (you are) to show respect. Here is a dialogue to help you understand how to use polite verb forms: Person 1: Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ? (Good morning, how are you today?) Person 2: Bonjour, je vais bien, merci. Et vous ? (Good morning, I'm doing well, thank you. And you?) Person 1: Je vais bien aussi, merci. (I'm doing well too, thank you.) Activity Practice using "vous" instead of "tu" in the following sentences: 1. Tu es étudiant. (You are a student.) 2. Tu parles français. (You speak French.) 3. Tu habites à Paris. (You live in Paris.) Now, try using the polite form: 1. Vous êtes étudiant. (You are a student.) 2. Vous parlez français. (You speak French.) 3. Vous habitez à Paris. (You live in Paris.) Politeness in Questions When asking someone for something or asking a question, it is important to use polite forms as well. Some examples of polite questions are: Can you help me, please? |- Could you tell me the way, please? |- Excuse me, could you repeat the question? |} Activity Person 1: Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous me dire l'heure, s'il vous plaît ? (Excuse me, could you tell me the time, please?) Person 2: Oui, bien sûr. Il est 10 heures et demie. (Yes, of course. It's 10:30.) Politeness in Emails In French culture, it is important to use formal language in emails, especially in professional settings. When writing an email to someone you don't know or someone in a position of authority, it is best to use the polite form and avoid using contractions such as "j'ai" (I have) or "je suis" (I am). Here are some examples of polite language you can use in emails: Bonjour Monsieur / Madame, (Hello Sir / Madam,) Je vous prie de bien vouloir m'excuser pour ce dérangement. (I apologize for any inconvenience.) Veuillez agréer, Monsieur / Madame, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées. (Sincerely, Sir / Madam,) Activity Write an email in French to a company, asking for information about a product or service they offer. Use polite expressions and verb forms, and follow the appropriate email format. Conclusion Being polite is an essential part of French culture. It is important to use polite expressions and verb forms when addressing someone formally or in professional settings. If you want to improve your French vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Remember to always be courteous and polite in your interactions with others. Merci beaucoup! Thank you very much! ➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below. ➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎