French Phrase
Est‑ce que M. Smith est dispo, s'il te plaît ?
Meaning
This sentence politely asks whether Mr. Smith is available. It mixes a formal title (M. Smith) with the informal abbreviation *dispo* and the familiar *s'il te plaît*, making it suitable for casual professional settings among peers.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a quick confirmation of someone’s availability in an informal work environment—e.g., texting a colleague, chatting on Slack, or speaking face‑to‑face with a teammate you know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Est‑cequeM.Smithestdispo,s'ilteplaît?
Est‑ce que (question intro)
The fixed phrase *Est‑ce que* turns a statement into a yes‑no question without changing word order.
M. (Monsieur)
The abbreviation *M.* stands for *Monsieur* and is used before a surname as a polite title.
dispo (colloquial)
*dispo* is the informal short form of *disponible* (available). It is common in spoken French and casual writing.
s'il te plaît
Literally ‘if it pleases you’, this phrase makes a request polite. Use *te* for informal ‘you’, *vous* for formal or plural.
Verb‑subject agreement
The verb *est* agrees with the singular subject *M. Smith*; keep the third‑person singular form.
🗨In Conversation
Est‑ce que M. Smith est dispo, s'il te plaît ?
Is Mr. Smith available, please?
Oui, il vient de finir sa réunion, il est libre dans 10 minutes.
Yes, he just finished his meeting; he’ll be free in 10 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Est‑ce que M. Smith est dispo, s'il vous plaît ?
Mixing *vous* with *te* creates a register clash; use either *s'il te plaît* (informal) or *s'il vous plaît* (formal).
Est‑ce que M. Smith est disponible, s'il te plaît ?
Using the full form *disponible* is not wrong, but it sounds overly formal when paired with *s'il te plaît*.
Est‑ce que M. Smith est‑il dispo ?
When you invert the subject and verb, you must keep the *‑il* after the title; the correct inversion is *M. Smith est‑il dispo ?* without *Est‑ce que*.
↔Alternatives
M. Smith est‑il disponible, s'il vous plaît ?
Is Mr. Smith available, please? (formal)
Est‑ce que M. Smith est libre, s'il te plaît ?
Is Mr. Smith free, please?
Pouvez‑vous me dire si M. Smith est disponible ?
Could you tell me if Mr. Smith is available?
Cultural Tip
In French business culture, using *dispo* signals a relaxed tone. If you’re writing to a senior manager or a client, replace *dispo* with *disponible* and *s'il te plaît* with *s'il vous plaît* to keep the register respectful. Also, remember that French titles (M., Mme, Dr.) are usually kept even in informal exchanges.