French Phrase
Tu peux me mettre un réveil téléphonique ?
Meaning
The speaker is asking someone else to set an alarm on their phone. It is a casual, friendly request that assumes the listener has access to the speaker’s device or can do it remotely.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a reminder and you’re speaking to a friend, family member, or colleague who can help you configure the alarm on your smartphone. It works best in informal contexts; in a more formal setting you might phrase it as a request rather than a direct question.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmemettreunréveiltéléphonique?
Peux (pouvoir)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd person singular present of the modal verb ‘pouvoir’, used to ask for permission or ability.
Me (pronom objet)
‘Me’ is a direct object pronoun meaning ‘to me’, placed before the infinitive in a construction with a modal verb.
Mettre (infinitif)
‘Mettre’ means ‘to set/put’. After a modal verb, the infinitive follows directly.
Un réveil téléphonique
A noun phrase meaning ‘a phone alarm’. ‘Réveil’ is a masculine noun; ‘téléphonique’ is an adjective that agrees in gender and number.
Interrogation avec inversion implicite
The sentence is a polite request, not a formal inversion; the question mark signals the interrogative tone.
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me mettre un réveil téléphonique pour 7h du matin ?
Can you set a phone alarm for me for 7 a.m.?
Bien sûr, je le règle tout de suite.
Sure, I’ll set it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux me mettre un réveil téléphonique ?
While understandable, many native speakers prefer ‘régler une alarme’ for smartphones.
Tu peux mettre me un réveil téléphonique ?
The pronoun should stay before the infinitive; placing it after ‘mettre’ would be incorrect.
Tu peux me mettre une alarme téléphonique ?
Avoid using the singular ‘réveil’ when you actually mean ‘alarme’; the word ‘alarme’ is more precise for phones.
↔Alternatives
Peux‑tu me régler une alarme sur mon téléphone ?
Can you set an alarm on my phone for me?
Tu pourrais programmer un réveil sur mon portable ?
Could you program an alarm on my mobile?
Est‑ce que tu peux mettre une alarme pour moi ?
Could you set an alarm for me?
Cultural Tip
In France, ‘mettre un réveil’ is common when talking about a traditional alarm clock, while for smartphones people usually say ‘régler une alarme’ or ‘programmer une alarme’. The phrase is perfectly understood, but using ‘alarme’ sounds a bit more modern. Also, French speakers tend to soften requests with ‘s’il te plaît’ or by adding ‘est‑ce que’ for extra politeness.