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How to Say ‘Can I pay by card?’ in French

Puis-je payer par carte?

pwee zhuh pay-yay par kart

[pwee zhuh pay-yay par kart]

💬 Usage Tip: [Puis-je...] is an inverted question form, a more polished way to say "can I...?" You can reuse it with other verbs: [Puis-je entrer ?] [Puis-je essayer ?]

🇫🇷 In France: This sounds polite and a bit formal, which is often useful with staff. In everyday speech, many people would also say [Je peux payer par carte ?], which is more casual but still fine.

Phrase Breakdown

Puis-je

pwee zhuh

Can I

Formal way to ask for permission to do something.

Example

Puis-je entrer?

Can I come in?

Words in this phrase

Puis

[pwee]

Can

Used to request permission or possibility.

Example

Puis-je vous aider?

Can I help you?

-je

[zhuh]

I

Subject pronoun, first person singular.

Example

Puis-je vous accompagner?

Can I accompany you?

payer

[pay-yay]

pay

To give money in exchange for goods or services.

Example

Je vais payer maintenant.

I will pay now.

par carte

par kart

by card

Refers to using a bank card as a payment method.

Example

Je paie par carte.

I pay by card.

Words in this phrase

par

[par]

by

Used to indicate the method or means of doing something.

Example

Je préfère payer par carte.

I prefer to pay by card.

carte

[kart]

card

A plastic card issued by banks or businesses for financial transactions.

Example

Puis-je utiliser ma carte?

Can I use my card?

Related guides

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 Phrases for Tourists: What to Say in Cafés, Shops, Stations and RestaurantsThe French phrases tourists actually use, sorted by situation: greetings, directions, cafés, restaurants, shopping and emergencies, with native audio.

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