How do you say "Can you" in French?

"Can you" in French is "Pouvez-vous". This phrase is commonly used in France.

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How to Say ‘Can you’ in French

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

"Pouvez-vous" means "Can you" in English. Usage tip: Hyphenated [pouvez-vous] is the formal way to ask '[can you?]' with the subject after the verb. You'll see the same pattern in [avez-vous] and [êtes-vous].

Pouvez-vous

poo-VAY voo

[poo-VAY voo]

💬 Usage Tip: Hyphenated [pouvez-vous] is the formal way to ask '[can you?]' with the subject after the verb. You'll see the same pattern in [avez-vous] and [êtes-vous].

🇫🇷 In France: This sounds polite and suitable with someone you do not know at a career event. With a recruiter or company representative, it lands better than a more direct casual question.

Phrase Breakdown

Pouvez

[poo-VAY]

Can you

Formal way to ask someone if they are able to do something.

Example

Pouvez-vous m'aider avec ce projet ?

Can you help me with this project?

-vous

[voo]

You

Part of the formal 'you' as in 'are you able'.

Example

Pouvez-vous expliquer cela encore une fois ?

Can you explain that once more?

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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