How do you say "Can you help me?" in French?

"Can you help me?" in French is "Pouvez-vous m'aider ?". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘Can you help me?’ in French

Q: What does "Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" mean in English?

"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" means "Can you help me?" in English. Usage tip: [M'] is short for [me] before a vowel sound and cannot stand alone. [Pouvez-vous...] is a useful polite pattern: [pouvez-vous répéter ?], [pouvez-vous attendre ?].

Pouvez-vous m'aider ?

poo-veh vooh meh aday

[poo-veh vooh meh aday]

💬 Usage Tip: [M'] is short for [me] before a vowel sound and cannot stand alone. [Pouvez-vous...] is a useful polite pattern: [pouvez-vous répéter ?], [pouvez-vous attendre ?].

🇫🇷 In France: This is a polite default with strangers because it uses [vous]. In everyday France, that level of politeness sounds natural, not stiff.

Phrase Breakdown

Pouvez

[poo-veh]

Can you help me?

A polite way to ask if someone can assist you.

Example

"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" Je ne trouve pas ma clé.

"Can you help me?" I can't find my key.

-vous

[vooh]

Can you help me?

A polite way to ask if someone can assist you.

Example

"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" Je ne trouve pas ma clé.

"Can you help me?" I can't find my key.

[meh]

Can you help me?

A polite way to ask if someone can assist you.

Example

"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" Je ne trouve pas ma clé.

"Can you help me?" I can't find my key.

aider

[aday]

Can you help me?

A polite way to ask if someone can assist you.

Example

"Pouvez-vous m'aider ?" Je ne trouve pas ma clé.

"Can you help me?" I can't find my key.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

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