How to Ask for Permission Politely in French: 'May I' and 'Can I'
Learn to ask permission in French with Puis-je and Est-ce que je peux, and tell permission apart from requests for objects.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Asking permission in French is not the same as asking for a thing. When you want to know whether an action is allowed, French uses two main patterns: the formal Puis-je...? ('May I...?') and the everyday Est-ce que je peux...? ('Can I...?'). Both are followed by the infinitive of the action verb, never by a conjugated verb. In this lesson you will build short, correct permission questions, choose the right level of politeness, and avoid the common trap of using a request-for-objects phrase when you mean permission.
By the end, you can…
- ask permission with Puis-je + infinitive in formal situations.
- ask permission with Est-ce que je peux + infinitive in everyday speech.
- tell a permission question apart from a request for an object.
- respond to a permission question with Oui, bien sûr or Non, désolé.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Puis-je ouvrir la fenêtre ?
May I open the window?
pweezh oo-VREER lah fuh-NETR
Formal and careful. Use with strangers, officials, or in writing. Puis-je is one fixed word; do not change it for other subjects.
Est-ce que je peux ouvrir la fenêtre ?
Can I open the window?
ess kuh zhuh puh oo-VREER lah fuh-NETR
The normal spoken choice with friends, family, and colleagues you know. Est-ce que turns the statement je peux ouvrir into a question.
Je peux ?
May I? / Can I?
zhuh PUH
Very short and casual, with rising intonation. Used when the action is already clear from context, for example holding up a pen you want to borrow.
Est-ce que je peux m'asseoir ici ?
May I sit here?
ess kuh zhuh puh ma-SWAR ee-SEE
m'asseoir is a reflexive infinitive meaning 'to sit down'. Keep the reflexive pronoun m' attached before the verb.
Puis-je vous poser une question ?
May I ask you a question?
pweezh voo po-ZAY oon kess-TYON
A polite formula for classrooms, meetings, and service situations. The vous form keeps it respectful.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Both core patterns put the action verb in the infinitive: Puis-je + infinitive and Est-ce que je peux + infinitive. Compare Puis-je fermer la porte ? ('May I close the door?') and Est-ce que je peux fermer la porte ? ('Can I close the door?'). You never say 'Puis-je je ferme' or 'Est-ce que je peux je ferme'. The subject je appears once, and the second verb stays in its dictionary form.
When to use it
Use Puis-je when you want to sound formal, careful, or respectful: Puis-je entrer ? ('May I come in?') to a teacher or official. Use Est-ce que je peux in ordinary conversation: Est-ce que je peux emprunter ton stylo ? ('Can I borrow your pen?'). For objects, French often prefers a different shape, such as Est-ce que je peux avoir un verre d'eau ? ('Can I have a glass of water?'), which asks for a thing rather than permission to act.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Puis-je ouvrir la fenêtre ? Il fait chaud.
May I open the window? It's hot.pweezh oo-VREER lah fuh-NETR eel feh SHOHOui, bien sûr. Allez-y.
Yes, of course. Go ahead.wee byan SOOR ah-lay-ZEEMerci. Est-ce que je peux aussi éteindre la lumière ?
Thank you. Can I also turn off the light?mer-SEE ess kuh zhuh puh oh-SEE ay-TANDR lah loo-MYAIRNon, désolé, laissez la lumière allumée, s'il vous plaît.
No, sorry, leave the light on, please.non day-zoh-LAY lay-SAY lah loo-MYAIR ah-loo-MAY seel voo PLAYA little context goes a long way
In France, Puis-je can sound slightly stiff in casual company, where Est-ce que je peux is the natural default. In Quebec and other francophone regions, Est-ce que je peux is also standard, while Puis-je remains understood but formal. Adding s'il vous plaît after the question is common and polite in all regions; with tu, use s'il te plaît.
One thing to watch for
Using Est-ce que je peux avoir...? for every permission idea, including actions.
Try this instead: For permission to act, use an action verb in the infinitive: Est-ce que je peux sortir ? ('Can I go out?'). Reserve avoir for requesting an object: Est-ce que je peux avoir un café ? ('Can I have a coffee?').
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Make it formal: 'Can I come in?' using Puis-je.
Show a sample answer
Puis-je entrer ?
Puis-je is followed directly by the infinitive entrer. Est-ce que je peux entrer ? is also correct but less formal.
2Turn 'Je peux fermer la porte' into a question with Est-ce que.
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que je peux fermer la porte ?
Est-ce que goes at the start, and the verb fermer stays in the infinitive. Rising intonation alone, Je peux fermer la porte ?, is also possible in speech.
3Which asks permission to act: Est-ce que je peux avoir ton stylo ? or Est-ce que je peux emprunter ton stylo ?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que je peux emprunter ton stylo ?
Emprunter ('to borrow') describes an action, so it asks permission. Avoir asks for the object itself; both can be polite, but they are different requests.
For permission, use Puis-je + infinitive when formal and Est-ce que je peux + infinitive in everyday French; keep the action verb in the infinitive and add s'il vous plaît when you want extra politeness.
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