French Phrase
Un instant, s'il te plaît.
Meaning
Literally “One instant, if it pleases you,” this phrase is a courteous way to ask someone to wait a very short time. It conveys politeness without sounding demanding.
When to use
Use it in informal situations—when chatting with a friend, waiting for a server in a café, or asking a colleague to hold on for a moment on the phone. It’s the go‑to phrase for a brief pause.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Uninstant,s'ilteplaît.
Indefinite article + noun
"Un" is the masculine indefinite article used before a singular masculine noun like "instant".
Contraction s'il
"s'il" is a contraction of "si" (if) + "il" (he/it) that appears in the fixed polite expression "s'il te plaît".
Pronoun te
"te" is the informal second‑person singular object pronoun, used when speaking to friends or peers.
Verb plaît
"plaît" is the third‑person singular present of "plaire" (to please); the phrase literally means "if it pleases you".
Punctuation
A comma separates the request from the polite formula, mirroring natural spoken pauses.
🗨In Conversation
Un instant, s'il te plaît.
One moment, please.
Bien sûr, je reviens tout de suite.
Sure, I’ll be right back.
✕Common Mistakes
Un instant, si il te plaît.
The contraction "s'il" must be used; "si il" is incorrect.
Un instant, s'il vous te plaît.
Mixing formal "vous" with informal "te" creates a register clash.
Un instant, s'il te plait.
The verb needs the accent grave: "plaît".
↔Alternatives
Un moment, s'il vous plaît.
One moment, please. (formal/plural)
Attendez une seconde, s'il vous plaît.
Please wait a second.
Patientez un instant, s'il vous plaît.
Please be patient for a moment.
Cultural Tip
In French, "s'il te plaît" is reserved for informal contexts, while "s'il vous plaît" is used with strangers, elders, or in professional settings. The word "instant" is very common in everyday speech, but you’ll also hear "moment" or "seconde" depending on how precise you want to be.