French - Politeness

Lesson 5 of 159

Learner practicing French polite phrases like merci and excusez-moi with a friendly teacher.

Goal: Everyday polite phrases for friendly French

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 5 — a short, cheerful practice session on polite phrases. Try them aloud and imagine real moments: a shop, a street, or a helpful friend.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn and practice common polite phrases in French — requests, apologies, thanks, and quick responses (e.g., “Merci.”, “Excusez-moi.”, “Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?”). This is Lesson 5, CEFR-aligned; we'll listen, repeat, and use these phrases in a short dialogue so you feel ready to be polite in real situations.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and say basic polite phrases (requests, thanks, apologies) at level A1.
  • Use informal polite frames like "Tu peux ___, s'il te plaît ?" and the formal alternatives when needed.
  • Respond appropriately to thanks and small apologies.
Two people on a street using polite French phrases to ask for directions and say thank you.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

___, s'il te plaît.

Please, ___ .

Meaning: Please, ___ .

When to use: Use this frame to make small polite requests (informal tu).

Tip: Using this with a stranger — switch to “s'il vous plaît” for formal situations.

Donne-moi le livre, s'il te plaît.
Give me the book, please.
Ouvre la fenêtre, s'il te plaît.
Open the window, please.

Merci

Thank you.

Meaning: Thank you.

When to use: Say this to show gratitude in most everyday situations.

Merci pour l'aide.
Thanks for the help.
Merci, c'était délicieux.
Thank you, that was delicious.

De rien

You're welcome.

Meaning: You're welcome.

When to use: Reply when someone thanks you (casual and common).

— Merci ! — De rien.
— Thanks! — You're welcome.
Merci pour le café. — De rien.
Thanks for the coffee. — You're welcome.

Excusez-moi.

Excuse me.

Meaning: Excuse me.

When to use: Use to get a stranger’s attention or to apologize for a small interruption (formal).

Excusez-moi, quelle heure est-il ?
Excuse me, what time is it?
Excusez-moi, je cherche la rue Victor Hugo.
Excuse me, I'm looking for Victor Hugo street.

Désolé

Sorry.

Meaning: Sorry.

When to use: Use to apologize briefly for a mistake or bumping into someone.

Désolé, je ne voulais pas marcher sur votre pied.
Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your foot.
Oh, désolé, j'ai oublié ton nom.
Oh, sorry, I forgot your name.

Tu peux ___, s'il te plaît ?

Could you ___, please?

Meaning: Could you ___, please?

When to use: Informal polite question frame using tu (change to vous for formality).

Tu peux m'aider, s'il te plaît ?
Can you help me, please?
Tu peux fermer la porte, s'il te plaît ?
Can you close the door, please?

Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?

Can you say that again, please?

Meaning: Can you say that again, please?

When to use: Ask a friend to repeat something you didn't hear (informal tu).

Tip: Beginners sometimes use the formal 'vous' with friends; match tu/vous to the situation.

Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ? Je n'ai pas entendu.
Can you repeat, please? I didn't hear.
Pardon, tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?
Sorry, can you repeat, please?

Aide-moi, s'il te plaît.

Please help me.

Meaning: Please help me.

When to use: Ask someone (informally) to help you in an urgent or practical situation.

Aide-moi, s'il te plaît, je suis perdu.
Help me, please, I'm lost.
Aide-moi, s'il te plaît, ouvre la porte.
Help me, please, open the door.

Désolé, je peux pas.

Sorry, I can't.

Meaning: Sorry, I can't.

When to use: Soft refusal or to say you cannot do something; common spoken form.

Tip: Spoken 'je peux pas' drops 'ne' — in formal writing say 'je ne peux pas.'

Désolé, je peux pas venir ce soir.
Sorry, I can't come tonight.
Désolé, je peux pas t'aider demain.
Sorry, I can't help you tomorrow.

C'est très gentil de ta part.

That's very kind of you.

Meaning: That's very kind of you.

When to use: Say this to acknowledge a favor or a kind offer (informal tu).

Tu m'as aidé avec mes valises — c'est très gentil de ta part.
You helped me with my suitcases — that's very kind of you.
Merci pour le café, c'est très gentil de ta part.
Thanks for the coffee, that's very kind of you.

C'est pas grave.

It's okay.

Meaning: It's okay.

When to use: Use to reassure someone after a small mistake or apology.

Oh, j'ai renversé l'eau. — C'est pas grave.
Oh, I spilled the water. — It's okay.
Désolé pour le retard. — C'est pas grave.
Sorry for being late. — It's okay.

Vas-y

Go ahead.

Meaning: Go ahead.

When to use: Give permission or encourage someone to start; informal 'Vas-y.'

Tu veux parler? — Vas-y.
Do you want to speak? — Go ahead.
Si tu veux essayer la guitare, vas-y.
If you want to try the guitar, go ahead.

Après toi.

After you.

Meaning: After you.

When to use: Let someone go first (informal 'Après toi').

Je tiens la porte. — Après toi.
I hold the door. — After you.
Tu passes en premier ? — Après toi.
You go first? — After you.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Asking for directions politely

Anna asks for help and repeats a phrase; David responds kindly — a short scene for learning politesse.

What does Anna ask David for?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Excusez-moi.

Excuse me.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui ?

Yes?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Aide-moi, s'il te plaît. Où est la gare ?

Help me, please. Where is the station?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Tout droit, puis à droite.

Straight ahead, then right.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?

Can you repeat, please?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Tout droit, puis à droite.

Straight ahead, then right.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Merci. C'est très gentil de ta part.

Thank you. That's very kind of you.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

De rien. C'est pas grave.

You're welcome. It's okay.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

What is the best reply to 'Merci.'?

Which phrase do you use to politely get a stranger's attention?

How do you ask someone informally to repeat something?

Which phrase softens a refusal or says you cannot do something?

You're welcome.

Someone thanks you after you open a door: 'Tu maintiens la porte. — ___.'

Can you repeat, please?

You missed a sentence in class and ask the teacher: '___'

Sorry.

You apologize quickly after bumping someone: '___'

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

___, s'il te plaît.

Please, ___ .

Say this phrase out loud:

Merci

Thank you.

Say this phrase out loud:

De rien

You're welcome.

Say this phrase out loud:

Excusez-moi.

Excuse me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Désolé

Sorry.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux ___, s'il te plaît ?

Could you ___, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ?

Can you say that again, please?

Say this phrase out loud:

Aide-moi, s'il te plaît.

Please help me.

Say this phrase out loud:

Désolé, je peux pas.

Sorry, I can't.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est très gentil de ta part.

That's very kind of you.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est pas grave.

It's okay.

Say this phrase out loud:

Vas-y

Go ahead.

Say this phrase out loud:

Après toi.

After you.