Asking for Help
Use these essential phrases to ask locals for help, directions, or clarification when you are lost or confused.
Key Phrases
Excusez-moi, vous pouvez m'aider s'il vous plaît ?
politeExcuse me, can you help me please?
Use this with strangers, shop staff, or police officers.
Excuse-moi, tu peux m'aider ?
casualExcuse me, can you help me?
Use this to get the attention of someone your own age in an informal setting.
Je suis perdu. Je cherche la gare.
neutralI am lost. I am looking for the train station.
If you identify as female, spell it 'perdue', though the pronunciation is exactly the same.
Je suis désolé, je ne comprends pas.
politeI am sorry, I do not understand.
A polite way to stop a conversation if a local speaks too fast. Add an 'e' (désolée) if you are female.
Pardon, je ne comprends pas.
casualSorry, I don't understand.
A slightly faster and more everyday way to express confusion.
Est-ce que vous pouvez parler plus lentement ?
politeCan you speak more slowly?
Very useful when asking for directions and the local answers too quickly.
Tu peux parler un peu plus lentement ?
casualCan you speak a little more slowly?
Use this when chatting informally with someone who speaks very fast.
Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?
politeCan you repeat, please?
The standard polite way to ask someone to say a sentence again.
Comment ? Tu peux répéter ?
casualWhat? Can you repeat?
'Comment ?' is the natural, polite way to say 'What?' when you didn't hear something clearly.