How to Say “Do You Speak English?” in French (Without Sounding Rude)

When you’re in a French-speaking country and you need help, it’s tempting to immediately ask, “Do you speak English?” But just like in any language, how you ask can make a big difference—especially in France, where politeness matters a lot.

So in this post, you’ll learn:

• How to say “Do you speak English?” in French

• How to be polite and culturally appropriate

• Casual vs. formal versions

• Smart phrases to follow up if they don’t speak English

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✅ The Most Polite Way: “Parlez-vous anglais ?”

This is the standard and formal way to say “Do you speak English?” in French.

• Parlez-vous anglais ?
  /paʁ.le.vu ɑ̃.ɡlɛ/

It’s a reversed question form, so it sounds very polite and grammatically correct. Use this if you’re speaking to a stranger, in a shop, hotel, train station, or any professional context.

📝 Add a polite intro to sound even better:

Excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais ?
Excuse me, do you speak English?

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👋 Informal Version: “Tu parles anglais ?”

This is the casual version, used among friends or people your age.

• Tu parles anglais ?
  /ty paʁl ɑ̃.ɡlɛ/

🚫 Do not use this with strangers—it may come across as too direct or even rude if used in the wrong context.

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💬 Politeness Tip: Don’t Skip the “Excusez-moi”

French culture values courtesy. Always start with:

• Excusez-moi… (formal)

• Pardon… (neutral)

• Bonjour… (hello – very important in France!)

Putting it together:

Bonjour, excusez-moi, parlez-vous anglais ?

This small effort goes a long way and will likely get you a much warmer response.

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🙈 What if they say “Non” ?

If the person doesn’t speak English, you can follow up with:

• Je parle un peu français.
  I speak a little French.

• Pouvez-vous parler lentement, s’il vous plaît ?
  Can you speak slowly, please?

• Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un qui parle anglais ?
  Is there someone who speaks English?

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🧠 Bonus Phrases

Here are a few extra useful expressions:

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Summary

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Final Tip

If you start with a simple “Bonjour”, then ask politely in French, people are much more likely to help you—even if they don’t speak English very well. A little French goes a long way!

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