Learn French: Je vous en prie, Madame, la table est prête. - You're welcome, madam, the table is ready.

Je vous en prie, Madame, la table est prête.

You're welcome, madam, the table is ready.

Breakdown of Je vous en prie, Madame, la table est prête.

Questions & Answers about Je vous en prie, Madame, la table est prête.

Why does Je vous en prie mean you are welcome? It does not look like those words.

Je vous en prie is a very common fixed expression. Literally, it means I pray you of it, but in everyday French, it is a formal and polite way to say you are welcome. As a beginner, it is best to memorize the whole phrase rather than translating it word-for-word.

Is there a difference between Je vous en prie and De rien?

Yes! While both are used to reply to a thank you, Je vous en prie is formal and uses the polite vous form. You use it with a customer, a stranger, or someone older. De rien is much more casual and is used with friends or people you know well.

Why is the word prête spelled with an e at the end here?

In French, adjectives have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Because la table is a feminine noun, you must add an e to the masculine word prêt to make it the feminine form, prête.

Does the e at the end of prête change how it is pronounced?

Yes, it does. For the masculine word prêt, the final t is silent. But when you add the e to make the feminine word prête, it forces you to pronounce that t sound at the end.