se vos plai

Please

Level 1

One small phrase makes a request polite, and the pronoun changes with the person.

How It Works

The phrase has three words: se (if), vos or te (you) and plai (it pleases, from plaire).

You speak to	Say
a stranger, or several people (vos)	se vos plai
a friend (tu)	se te plai

Put it at the end of the request: Un cafè, se vos plai. A comma sets it apart.

With a waiter, a shop assistant or any stranger, use vos. With friends and family, use te.

Write se for if, never si. Si is the Provençal and Gascon form.

The entry on tu and vos explains when to use each pronoun.

Un cafè, se vos plai.
A coffee, please.
Se vos plai is polite with a stranger.
Un veire d'aiga, se vos plai.
A glass of water, please.
The phrase comes after the request.
Un cafè, se te plai.
A coffee, please.
Se te plai is for a friend.
Una taula per dos, se vos plai.
A table for two, please.
The phrase works after any request.

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

se vos plaiLevel 1Please

Se vos plai belongs to the polite exchange that begins with thanks, and it uses vos, so thanks and the tu and vos choice come first.

Patterns that build on this one.

se vos plaise te plaiplaire

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