French Phrase
Sois poli et pro.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Be polite and pro.’ In everyday French it is a short, informal way to tell someone to keep a courteous and professional attitude, especially in a work or customer‑service context.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving a quick reminder to a colleague, a junior teammate, or a friend who is about to interact with clients. It works well in informal emails, chat messages, or spoken advice, but avoid it in very formal written correspondence.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Soispolietpro
Sois (imperative)
‘Sois’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb *être* (to be). It is used for informal commands addressed to one person.
poli (adjective)
‘poli’ is a masculine singular adjective meaning ‘polite’. It agrees with the implied subject ‘tu’, which is masculine or neutral in this generic command.
et (conjunction)
Simple coordinating conjunction meaning ‘and’, linking two adjectives.
pro (colloquial adjective)
‘pro’ is a modern, informal abbreviation of *professionnel* used as an adjective meaning ‘professional’. It does not change form for gender or number.
🗨In Conversation
Sois poli et pro.
Be polite and professional.
Pas de problème, je ferai attention à mon ton.
No problem, I’ll watch my tone.
✕Common Mistakes
Soyez poli et pro.
‘Soyez’ is the formal/plural imperative; using it changes the register and would sound too stiff for the casual tone of this phrase.
Sois polie et pro.
‘Polie’ is the feminine form; the subject ‘tu’ is gender‑neutral here, so the masculine ‘poli’ is required.
Sois poli et professionnel.
If you replace ‘pro’ with the full adjective, you must adjust agreement: *professionnel* (masc.) or *professionnelle* (fem.).
↔Alternatives
Soyez poli et professionnel.
Be polite and professional.
Restez courtois et pro.
Stay courteous and pro.
Adoptez une attitude polie et professionnelle.
Adopt a polite and professional attitude.
Cultural Tip
In French business culture, showing respect (courtoisie) and competence (professionnalisme) is essential. The word *pro* is a youthful, almost Anglo‑Saxon borrowing that appears in tech‑start‑up environments and informal office chats. In more traditional sectors (law, finance) you’d prefer the full form *professionnel*.