How to Interrupt Politely in French: 'Sorry to cut in, but...' and 'Can I add something?'
Learn elementary French phrases to interrupt politely and urgently, so you can cut in without sounding rude and know when to speak immediately.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Sometimes you must speak now: a detail is wrong, a safety point is missed, or you have information the group needs before it decides. French has specific polite openers for this. This lesson teaches short, standard phrases to interrupt without offense, and shows how they differ from changing the topic, which can usually wait. You will practise 'Désolé de vous couper, mais...' and 'Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?', plus the follow-up sentence that makes your interruption useful.
By the end, you can…
- interrupt politely in French when I need to speak immediately.
- use 'Désolé de vous couper, mais...' and 'Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?' in a short exchange.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Désolé de vous couper, mais c'est urgent.
Sorry to cut in, but it's urgent.
day-zoh-LAY duh voo koo-PAY, may say toor-ZHAHN
Use when you must speak now. 'Vous' is polite or plural; with one friend, say 'Désolé de te couper, mais c'est urgent.'
Pardon de vous interrompre, mais il y a un problème.
Sorry to interrupt you, but there's a problem.
par-DOHN duh voo zan-tay-ROHMPR, may eel ya un prob-LEM
A slightly more formal opener. Good in meetings, appointments or with people you do not know well.
Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?
Can I add something?
ess-kuh zhuh puh ah-zhoo-TAY kel-kuh shohz
A direct but polite request to speak. Use it when you have a useful point, not a topic change.
Juste une précision : la réunion est à dix heures, pas à neuf.
Just one clarification: the meeting is at ten, not at nine.
zhoost ewn pray-see-ZYOHN: la ray-oo-NYOHN ay tah dee-ZUHR, pah zah nuf
The pattern 'Juste une précision : ...' lets you correct a fact quickly and clearly.
Je peux dire quelque chose très vite ?
Can I say something very quickly?
zhuh puh DEER kel-kuh shohz tray VEET
Friendly and common in informal groups. It signals that your interruption will be short.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The polite interruption usually has three parts: an apology, a request, then your point. Apology: 'Désolé de vous couper' or 'Pardon de vous interrompre'. Request: 'Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?' or 'Je peux dire quelque chose très vite ?'. Point: 'Juste une précision : ...' or 'Il y a un problème.' For example: 'Pardon de vous interrompre, mais est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ? La date n'est pas correcte.' Keep the apology short; in French, a long apology can sound more disruptive than the interruption itself.
When to use it
Use these phrases when waiting would cause a real problem: a wrong time, a missing document, a safety issue, or information that changes the decision. Say 'Désolé de vous couper, mais c'est urgent' and then give the key fact immediately. Do not use them just to change the topic; for that, wait for a pause and say 'Autre chose : ...' or 'On peut parler d'autre chose ?' If you are not sure whether it is urgent, ask: 'Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?' That gives the speaker a chance to say 'Oui, bien sûr' or 'Pas maintenant, s'il vous plaît.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Nous allons envoyer le document demain matin.
We're going to send the document tomorrow morning.noo zah-LOHN ahn-vwa-YAY luh doh-koo-MAHN duh-MAN ma-TANPardon de vous interrompre, mais il y a un problème : le client a besoin du document aujourd'hui.
Sorry to interrupt, but there's a problem: the client needs the document today.par-DOHN duh voo zan-tay-ROHMPR, may eel ya un prob-LEM: luh klee-AHN ah buh-ZWAN doo doh-koo-MAHN oh-zhoor-DWEEAh, merci. Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ? Nous pouvons l'envoyer avant midi.
Ah, thank you. Can I add something? We can send it before noon.ah, mair-SEE. ess-kuh zhuh puh ah-zhoo-TAY kel-kuh shohz? noo poo-VOHN lahn-vwa-YAY ah-VAHN mee-DEEOui, très bien. Juste une précision : il faut aussi prévenir le directeur.
Yes, very good. Just one clarification: we also need to inform the manager.wee, tray byan. zhoost ewn pray-see-ZYOHN: eel foh oh-SEE pray-vuh-NEER luh dee-rek-TUHRA little context goes a long way
In many French-speaking workplaces, a short, justified interruption is acceptable, especially if you apologize and give the reason immediately. 'Vous' forms are safer in formal settings; 'tu' forms suit friends, family and some close teams. In Canada, 'Désolé de t'interrompre' is common in informal speech; in France, 'Pardon de vous interrompre' often sounds slightly more formal.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Excusez-moi, je veux changer de sujet' when you actually need to speak now.
Try this instead: That announces a topic change, not an urgent interruption. For an urgent point, say 'Désolé de vous couper, mais c'est urgent' and then give the fact. If you really want to change topic, wait and say 'Autre chose : ...'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You need to correct a wrong meeting time right now. Which opener fits best?
Show a sample answer
Désolé de vous couper, mais c'est urgent : la réunion est à dix heures.
This apology plus urgent reason fits an immediate correction. 'Pardon de vous interrompre' also works; a topic-change phrase would not.
2You want to add a small point but are not sure it is urgent. What can you ask?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que je peux ajouter quelque chose ?
This politely asks permission and lets the speaker accept or postpone. 'Je peux dire quelque chose très vite ?' is also fine in informal groups.
3Your friend is speaking and you must interrupt. Which form of address is natural?
Show a sample answer
Désolé de te couper, mais c'est urgent.
With one friend, 'te' is the usual informal object pronoun. 'Vous' would sound distant or would address several people.
To interrupt without offense in French, apologize briefly, ask or announce your urgent point, then say it fast: 'Désolé de vous couper, mais c'est urgent.'
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