How to Say "We've Already Ordered" in French: A Polite Café Reply
Learn to say On a déjà commandé and Nous avons déjà commandé in French, and tell a server you have already ordered, are still waiting, or need to ask who took your order.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When a second server walks up to your table and asks if you are ready to order, you need a short, polite French reply that stops the question without sounding annoyed. The key phrase is On a déjà commandé, merci (we have already ordered, thank you). This lesson teaches that reply, a slightly more formal version with nous, and the nearby situations learners often mix up: not having ordered yet, waiting for drinks, and asking whether someone has already taken your order. French also keeps a clear difference between commandé (ordered) and servi (served), so you can say exactly what has happened and what has not.
By the end, you can…
- tell a server that my table has already ordered, using on a déjà commandé or nous avons déjà commandé.
- distinguish already ordered, not ordered yet, waiting for drinks, and asking who took the order.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
On a déjà commandé, merci.
We've already ordered, thank you.
on ah day-ZHAH koh-mahn-DAY, mair-SEE
The most natural everyday reply when a server approaches your table a second time. On is common in spoken French for 'we'.
Nous avons déjà commandé.
We have already ordered.
noo zah-von day-ZHAH koh-mahn-DAY
A slightly more formal or written-style version. Use nous avons rather than on a when you want to sound careful or polite.
Pas encore, on regarde la carte.
Not yet, we're looking at the menu.
pah zan-KOR, on ruh-GARD lah kart
Use this when you have not ordered yet. It politely explains the delay without promising a time.
On attend les boissons.
We're waiting for the drinks.
on ah-TAHN lay bwah-SON
Use this when the order is placed but the drinks have not arrived. It describes waiting, not ordering.
Quelqu'un a déjà pris notre commande ?
Has someone already taken our order?
kel-KUN ah day-ZHAH pree no-truh koh-MAHND
A polite question to ask staff when you are not sure whether your order was recorded.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is a subject plus a form of avoir plus déjà plus commandé. In speech, use On a déjà commandé, merci. In a more formal register, use Nous avons déjà commandé. To make it negative, put ne or n’ before the auxiliary and pas after it: On n'a pas encore commandé (we haven't ordered yet). To talk about the drinks, change the object: On attend les boissons. Notice that commandé means 'ordered', while servi means 'served'. They are not the same state: On a commandé, mais on n'a pas encore été servi means 'We have ordered, but we haven't been served yet.'
When to use it
Use On a déjà commandé, merci when a server approaches and you want to prevent a second order being taken. Use Nous avons déjà commandé in a quieter, more formal setting, or when speaking for a group clearly. Use Pas encore, on regarde la carte if you need more time. Use On attend les boissons if the order is in but the drinks have not arrived. Use Quelqu'un a déjà pris notre commande ? if you are unsure whether the first server wrote it down. In all these cases, keep your tone calm and add merci or s'il vous plaît where it fits naturally.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, vous avez choisi ?
Hello, have you chosen?bon-ZHOOR, voo zah-vay shwah-ZEEOui, on a déjà commandé, merci.
Yes, we've already ordered, thank you.wee, on ah day-ZHAH koh-mahn-DAY, mair-SEEAh, très bien. Et vous attendez les boissons ?
Ah, very good. And are you waiting for the drinks?ah, tray byan. ay voo zah-tahn-DAY lay bwah-SONOui, on attend les boissons.
Yes, we're waiting for the drinks.wee, on ah-TAHN lay bwah-SONA little context goes a long way
In French cafés and restaurants, a brief merci or s'il vous plaît softens a reply that could otherwise sound abrupt. On a déjà commandé is normal in casual spoken French; nous avons déjà commandé sounds more formal and is useful when you want to be especially clear. Regional usage varies: in Quebec, staff may use different service phrases, but the core forms commandé and servi remain clear. Do not assume that ordering means the food or drinks have arrived.
One thing to watch for
Saying On est déjà servi to mean 'we have already ordered'.
Try this instead: Servi means 'served', not 'ordered'. If you have ordered but the food has not arrived, say On a déjà commandé, merci. If the food has arrived, you can say On a déjà été servi or On est déjà servis, depending on the structure you use.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1A second server comes to your table and asks if you are ready to order. You have already ordered. What is a natural polite reply?
Show a sample answer
On a déjà commandé, merci.
This directly says that the table has already ordered and adds merci. Nous avons déjà commandé is also correct in a more formal register.
2You have not ordered yet and need more time with the menu. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
Pas encore, on regarde la carte.
Pas encore means 'not yet', and on regarde la carte explains that you are still looking. On n'a pas encore commandé is another valid option.
3You ordered, but the drinks have not arrived. How do you say you are waiting for the drinks?
Show a sample answer
On attend les boissons.
Attendre means 'to wait for'. This sentence describes waiting for the drinks and does not claim that they have been served.
Use On a déjà commandé, merci for a quick, polite reply, and Nous avons déjà commandé when you want a more formal tone. Keep commandé (ordered) separate from servi (served), and use On attend les boissons when the order is in but the drinks have not arrived.
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