How to translate “May I” in French? I hear many students use “puis-je”. It’s possible, but quite out-dated nowadays. Here is what I would say.
My tip when asking permission in French: donât try to understand âwhyâ we say âmay Iâ this way in French. Just accept that we do, and memorize the examples so you may in turn use them in conversation :-)
There are many different ways to translate âmay Iâ in FrenchâŠ
1 . âPuis-jeâ â Extremely Formal and Nowadays Outdated
In extremely formal and old-fashioned French, we used to say: âpuis-jeâ.
Puis-je mâasseoir ? Might I sit down?
Puis-je avoir cette danse? May I have this dance?
I personally never use âpuis-jeâ. Iâve seen it written much more, especially in French literature.
I do know some people who use it frequently nowadays still⊠So, itâs a question of personal choice at this point. Kind of like using âmight Iâ in American English.
2. âPourrais-jeâ â Very Formal
Using âpouvoirâ in the French conditional is common to ask permission in French.
Pourrais-je passer un coup de téléphone ? May I make a phone call?
Note that we donât usually use inversion with the âjeâ form. âPuis-je, pourrais-jeâ are one of the few instances when it is actually possible to do so.
Pourriez-vous me donner du feu?
Tricky to translate⊠I try to find interesting examples that you could actually use. This sentence is used when asking for a lighter or a match to light a cigarette. The literal translation would be âcould you give me some fireâ⊠It means âwould you have a lighter?â

3 . âEst-ce que je peuxâ / âje peuxâ â Most Common
Today, to ask âmay Iâ in French, the most common way is to use âpouvoirâ in the present indicative, using âest-ce queâ⊠or not⊠As Iâve explained many time in this blog in modern French, itâs common not to use any interrogative construction and simply raise your voice to transform a statement into a question.
- (Est-ce que) je peux venir avec toi ? May/Can I come with you?
- (Est-ce quâ) il peut tâappeler plus tard? Can he call you later?
I understand this is a bit weird for English speakers because it sounds like you are not being polite enough⊠âcan Iâ instead of âmay Iâ⊠but thatâs perfectly OK in French to use âje peuxâ for âmay Iâ.
Now here are others way of translating the notion of âmay Iâ in French.

4 â More Ways of Saying May I in French
- Vous permettez ? Tu permets ? â literally this means âdo you give me permissionâ ?
- Tu veux bien / vous voulez bien â do you mind? This is very common in French. Note that the answer is âoui â je veux bienâ, not âno, I donât mindâ! This is always so very difficult for me in English since I always want to say âyesâ when a ânoâ is expected of me!!
- Ăa te/vous dĂ©range si⊠â literally this means âis this any trouble if. We also use it a lot.
Suggestions? Do you know more expressions to say âmay Iâ in French? Iâd love to hear them! Please add them to the comments below!
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