French Politeness: The Courtesy Phrases Beyond Please and Thank You
French courtesy phrases for interrupting, offering, accepting and dining politely - plus links to the full please, thank you and sorry guides.
Beyond please and thank you, French courtesy includes phrases for interrupting (excusez-moi de vous interrompre), offering (je vous en prie), gracefully declining (une autre fois peut-être), and dining (bon appétit before eating - a phrase English has no real equivalent for).
Quick answer
Beyond please and thank you, French courtesy includes phrases for interrupting (excusez-moi de vous interrompre), offering (je vous en prie), gracefully declining (une autre fois peut-être), and dining (bon appétit before eating - a phrase English has no real equivalent for).
Master French social courtesies with native audio. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
For the core courtesy words themselves, see please, thank you, and sorry in French.
Interrupting politely
Excusez-moi de vous interrompre, puis-je dire quelque chose ?, désolé de vous couper - all soften the interruption before you speak.
Offering something
Je vous en prie, servez-vous, vous voulez… ? - the standard ways to extend an offer graciously.
Accepting and declining gracefully
Avec plaisir, volontiers for accepting; une autre fois peut-être (maybe another time - a soft decline) or c’est gentil mais… for declining without offense.
At the table
Bon appétit (said before eating begins - no real English equivalent), santé/à votre santé (see santé and toast etiquette), c’était délicieux (it was delicious, after the meal).
The overarching principle
French social interactions run on small verbal courtesies more than English does - greetings, requests and even simple exchanges are cushioned with more of these phrases than English speakers typically expect.
| Situation | Phrase |
|---|---|
| Interrupting | excusez-moi de vous interrompre |
| Offering | je vous en prie |
| Declining softly | une autre fois peut-être |
| Before a meal | bon appétit |
See also welcome in French for the full politeness family.
Courtesy that sounds natural
LexiFr teaches French social phrases with native audio and real cultural context.
Free to start - no ads, no streak guilt. Your first 200 words are waiting.
Questions about this note
How do you politely interrupt someone in French?
Excusez-moi de vous interrompre, or désolé de vous couper.
How do you offer something politely?
Je vous en prie, or vous voulez… ?
How do you decline an offer gracefully?
Une autre fois peut-être (maybe another time), or c'est gentil mais…
What does bon appétit mean and when do you say it?
Said before a meal begins, roughly "enjoy your meal" - no exact English equivalent.
Is politeness more emphasized in French than English?
French social interaction generally involves more frequent small verbal courtesies, especially around greetings and requests.