French for Elementary Learners: Asking Someone for a Recipe
Learn to ask 'Can you give me the recipe?' in French, request written or shared instructions, and respond politely when someone asks you for a recipe.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
Asking for a recipe is not the same as asking how to cook something. When you say 'Can you give me the recipe?' you are asking for written or shareable instructions you can keep, copy, or follow later. In French, the key verb is donner ('to give'), and the polite question form is Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? This lesson teaches you that request, how to ask for it in writing, and how to respond when someone asks you.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone politely to give me a recipe in French.
- ask for the recipe in written or shared form.
- respond when someone asks me for a recipe.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ?
Can you give me the recipe?
poo-vay VOO muh doh-NAY lah ruh-SET
Polite standard French, used with one person you address as vous. The most direct equivalent of the target question.
Tu peux me donner la recette ?
Can you give me the recipe?
tew puh muh doh-NAY lah ruh-SET
Informal, used with one person you address as tu: family, friends, classmates, children.
Est-ce que vous pouvez me donner la recette ?
Can you give me the recipe?
ess-kuh voo poo-vay muh doh-NAY lah ruh-SET
Same polite request in a fuller question form. Est-ce que is common in everyday speech and safe for beginners.
Vous pouvez me l'envoyer par écrit ?
Can you send it to me in writing?
voo poo-vay muh lahn-vwa-YAY par ay-KREE
Use this when you want the recipe written down, for example by message or email. The pronoun l' replaces la recette.
Je peux vous envoyer la recette.
I can send you the recipe.
zhuh puh voo zahn-vwa-YAY lah ruh-SET
A useful reply when you are the person who has the recipe. Use vous for a polite or plural addressee; use t'envoyer with tu.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Pouvez-vous me donner + noun ? or Tu peux me donner + noun ? Put me before the infinitive donner. Examples: Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? ('Can you give me the recipe?'); Tu peux me donner ton adresse ? ('Can you give me your address?'). For a written or shared copy, add par écrit or par message: Pouvez-vous me l'envoyer par écrit ?
When to use it
Use Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? with an adult you do not know well, a colleague, a shopkeeper, or anyone you address as vous. Use Tu peux me donner la recette ? with a friend, relative, or classmate you address as tu. If you want the recipe as a written or shareable text, say Pouvez-vous me l'envoyer par écrit ? or par message. Do not use this to ask for a cooking demonstration; for that, ask Comment est-ce qu'on prépare ce plat ?
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, votre gâteau est délicieux ! Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ?
Hello, your cake is delicious! Can you give me the recipe?bon-ZHOOR, votr gah-TOH ay day-li-SYUH! poo-vay VOO muh doh-NAY lah ruh-SETBien sûr. Je peux vous l'envoyer par écrit. Vous avez une adresse e-mail ?
Of course. I can send it to you in writing. Do you have an email address?byan SEWR. zhuh puh voo lahn-vwa-YAY par ay-KREE. voo za-vay ewn ah-DRESS ee-MAYLOui, merci beaucoup. Est-ce que la recette est difficile ?
Yes, thank you very much. Is the recipe difficult?wee, mair-SEE boh-KOO. ess-kuh lah ruh-SET ay dee-fee-SEELNon, c'est facile. Je vous envoie la recette ce soir.
No, it's easy. I'll send you the recipe this evening.non, say fah-SEEL. zhuh voo zahn-VWAH lah ruh-SET suh SWARA little context goes a long way
In France and other French-speaking regions, recipe requests often happen after a meal or in a message. Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? is polite and standard. With friends, Tu peux me donner la recette ? is normal. In some regions, people may offer to show you how to make the dish instead of sending a written recipe, so you can add par écrit or par message if you specifically want it written.
One thing to watch for
Using Comment cuisiner... ? when you want the recipe itself: Comment cuisiner la recette ?
Try this instead: Comment cuisiner asks how to cook something, not for the recipe. To ask for the recipe, say Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? To ask how to cook a dish, say Comment est-ce qu'on prépare ce plat ?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are speaking politely to an adult you do not know well. Ask them to give you the recipe.
Show a sample answer
Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ?
This uses the polite vous form and the pattern Pouvez-vous me donner + noun. Est-ce que vous pouvez me donner la recette ? is also correct and slightly more formal.
2You want the recipe sent to you in writing. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Pouvez-vous me l'envoyer par écrit ?
The pronoun l' replaces la recette, and par écrit means 'in writing'. Par message is also valid if you mean a text or direct message.
3A friend asks you for a recipe. Give a short positive reply.
Show a sample answer
Oui, bien sûr. Je peux t'envoyer la recette.
This uses tu because the friend is addressed informally. Je peux vous envoyer la recette is correct if you are being polite or speaking to more than one person.
To ask for a recipe in French, use Pouvez-vous me donner la recette ? with vous, or Tu peux me donner la recette ? with tu. Add par écrit or par message when you want written or shared instructions.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s French into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr