A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could i ask you a question" in French
Politely ask permission to ask someone a question in French.
Puis-je vous poser une question ?
pweezh voo poh-ZAY oon kes-TYOHNformal
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you need to interrupt someone or ask for information from a stranger. It's a good way to signal you're about to ask something and want to be polite about it.
Alternatives
- Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ?Slightly less formal, but still very common and polite.
- Je peux vous poser une question ?More casual, often used when you know the person a little or in a less formal setting.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'puis-je'
The 's' in 'puis' is pronounced, and the 'je' links to it smoothly.
Using 'tu' too soon
Always start with 'vous' unless the other person uses 'tu' with you first.
A small cultural note
While 'Puis-je...' is very correct, many French speakers might opt for a slightly more relaxed phrasing in everyday situations.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to ask a question if I don't know the person?
Use 'Puis-je vous poser une question ?' or 'Est-ce que je peux vous poser une question ?' to be polite with strangers.
What if I already know the person a bit?
You can use 'Je peux vous poser une question ?' or even 'Je peux te poser une question ?' if you're on 'tu' terms.
Is there a simpler way to ask?
You could simply say 'Une question ?' with a questioning tone, but the full phrases are much more polite.
