How do you say "polite" in French?

poli

Adjective Noun

In French, "polite" is poli.

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Pronunciation

Say poh-LEE, with the stress on the final syllable and a silent final t.

Grammar notes

poli is a adjective used the same way as its English equivalent.

Example sentence

Elle était polie avec les invités.

She was polite to the guests.

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How to remember poli

Poli looks like polite with the ending trimmed off, an easy visual shortcut.

Related words

Browse all French words in the glossary.

Questions about poli

How do you pronounce poli?

Say poh-LEE, with the stress on the final syllable and a silent final t.

Is poli formal or casual?

poli is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is poli used in French?

poli is used the same way as the equivalent English adjective. For example: Elle était polie avec les invités. (She was polite to the guests.).

Where can I practice French words for free?

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"Polite" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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