French - Asking for Help

Lesson 9 of 159

Learner asking for help in French at a train station — lesson on asking for help phrases.

Goal: Polite requests and quick phrases to get assistance

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

Ready to ask for help in French? This short lesson gives you friendly, useful phrases you can use right away. Practice out loud and imagine real moments — it's the best way to remember.

Level A1: In this lesson you'll learn simple, polite ways to ask for help in French (both formal and informal). We'll practice phrases like Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !, Tu peux m'aider ?, Je ne trouve pas ___, and Tu peux répéter ?. This CEFR-aligned set is perfect for emergencies, shops, or everyday situations — lesson 9 keeps it short and practical.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use key A1 phrases to ask for help politely and informally.
  • Practice asking someone to show or repeat something, and say when you can’t do something.
  • Use formal vous and informal tu forms appropriately in simple help situations.
A friendly street scene where a traveler asks a passerby for directions in French.

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.

Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !

Help, please.

Meaning: Help, please.

When to use: Use when you need immediate, polite help from a stranger or staff member; often shouted in an urgent situation.

Tip: Avoid 'Aide-moi' when addressing strangers — use 'Aidez-moi' (vous) for polite urgency.

Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît ! J'ai perdu mon sac.
Help, please! I lost my bag.
Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît : je me suis blessé.
Help please: I'm hurt.

Tu peux m'aider ?

Can you help me?

Meaning: Can you help me?

When to use: Use informally with someone you know or a peer; a friendly, neutral way to ask for help.

Tip: Don't say 'Vous peux' — for formal use 'Pouvez-vous…' instead of 'Tu peux…'.

Tu peux m'aider à porter ce colis ?
Can you help me carry this package?
Tu peux m'aider avec mon français ?
Can you help me with my French?

J'ai besoin d'aide.

I need help.

Meaning: I need help.

When to use: State this when you want to say you need assistance in general or immediately.

J'ai besoin d'aide pour trouver la sortie.
I need help finding the exit.
Si vous avez une minute, j'ai besoin d'aide.
If you have a minute, I need help.

Tu peux m'aider avec ___ ?

Can you help me with ___?

Meaning: Can you help me with ___?

When to use: Use this to ask for help with a specific thing or task; fill the blank with the item or task.

Tu peux m'aider avec mes bagages ?
Can you help me with my luggage?
Tu peux m'aider avec la traduction de ce mot ?
Can you help me with the translation of this word?

Tu peux me montrer ?

Can you show me?

Meaning: Can you show me?

When to use: Ask this when you want someone to point out a place, object, or button.

Tu peux me montrer où est la sortie ?
Can you show me where the exit is?
Tu peux me montrer ce bouton ?
Can you show me this button?

Tu peux me montrer comment faire ?

Can you show me how?

Meaning: Can you show me how to do it?

When to use: Use when you want someone to demonstrate a process or action step-by-step.

Tu peux me montrer comment faire la machine à café ?
Can you show me how to use the coffee machine?
Tu peux me montrer comment faire du vélo ?
Can you show me how to ride a bike?

Tu peux répéter ?

Can you say that again?

Meaning: Can you say that again?

When to use: Ask this when you missed what someone said or didn't understand; add 's'il te plaît' to be more polite.

Je n'ai pas entendu, tu peux répéter ?
I didn't hear, can you repeat?
Tu peux répéter la dernière partie, s'il te plaît ?
Can you repeat the last part, please?

Je ne trouve pas ___.

I can't find ___.

Meaning: I can't find ___.

When to use: Say this when you are searching for something; include any necessary article (mes, la, le) in the blank.

Tip: Beginners sometimes drop the article (la/le/mes). Remember: 'Je ne trouve pas la gare.' not 'Je ne trouve pas gare.'

Je ne trouve pas mes clés.
I can't find my keys.
Je ne trouve pas la gare.
I can't find the train station.

Vous travaillez ici ?

Do you work here?

Meaning: Do you work here?

When to use: Use to identify a staff member or someone who might help; 'vous' is polite for unknown staff.

Excusez-moi, vous travaillez ici ?
Excuse me, do you work here?
Bonjour, vous travaillez ici ? J'ai une question.
Hello, do you work here? I have a question.

Qui peut m'aider ?

Who can help me?

Meaning: Who can help me?

When to use: Ask this when you need to know which person can provide assistance.

Il y a un problème — qui peut m'aider ?
There is a problem — who can help me?
Qui peut m'aider avec mon sac ?
Who can help me with my bag?

Je peux vous poser une question ?

Can I ask you a question?

Meaning: Can I ask you a question?

When to use: Use this to politely open a request for help with a stranger or staff member (formal vous).

Excusez-moi, je peux vous poser une question ?
Excuse me, can I ask you a question?
Je peux vous poser une question sur le train ?
Can I ask you a question about the train?

Ça ne marche pas.

This doesn't work.

Meaning: This doesn't work.

When to use: Use to tell someone that a machine, device, or object is not functioning.

Le distributeur ne donne pas de ticket. Ça ne marche pas.
The machine won't give a ticket. This doesn't work.
J'essaie d'ouvrir la porte, mais ça ne marche pas.
I'm trying to open the door, but this doesn't work.

Je peux pas faire ça.

I can't do this.

Meaning: I can't do this.

When to use: Say this when you cannot manage a task; note: spoken French often drops 'ne'.

Je peux pas faire ça tout seul.
I can't do this alone.
Désolé, je peux pas faire ça aujourd'hui.
Sorry, I can't do that today.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a busy station information desk

Two people talk at an information desk in French; the learner practices asking for help.

What is Anna looking for?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Excusez-moi, vous travaillez ici ?

Excuse me, do you work here?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui. Je peux vous poser une question ?

Yes. Can I ask you a question?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît ! Je ne trouve pas la gare.

Help please! I can't find the train station.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Qui peut m'aider ? Je peux vous montrer.

Who can help? I can show you.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Tu peux me montrer comment faire pour prendre le bon train ?

Can you show me how to take the right train?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Bien sûr. Tu peux m'aider avec tes bagages ?

Sure. Can you help me with your luggage?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means "Help, please!"?

Which phrase tells someone 'I need help'?

Which phrase would you use to say 'This doesn't work.'?

Which phrase asks someone to repeat what they said?

Can you say that again?

At the shop, you didn't hear the cashier. You say: '___'

I need help.

Your phone died and you need assistance. You say: '___'

Can I ask you a question?

You are at a station and want to politely begin asking a stranger for directions: '___'

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:

Aidez-moi, s'il vous plaît !

Help, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux m'aider ?

Can you help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai besoin d'aide.

I need help.

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux m'aider avec ___ ?

Can you help me with ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux me montrer ?

Can you show me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux me montrer comment faire ?

Can you show me how to do it?

Say this phrase out loud:

Tu peux répéter ?

Can you say that again?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je ne trouve pas ___.

I can't find ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Vous travaillez ici ?

Do you work here?

Say this phrase out loud:

Qui peut m'aider ?

Who can help me?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux vous poser une question ?

Can I ask you a question?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça ne marche pas.

This doesn't work.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux pas faire ça.

I can't do this.