French Phrase
Évite de parler fort.
Meaning
A direct, polite command telling someone to keep their voice down. It is often used when the speaker wants the listener to be quieter without sounding harsh.
When to use
Use this phrase in quiet environments such as libraries, museums, meetings, public transport, or any situation where loud speech would disturb others.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Évitedeparlerfort.
Évite (imperative)
Second‑person singular imperative of the verb éviter, used to give a direct command.
de + infinitive
After verbs of avoidance (éviter, empêcher, etc.) the infinitive is introduced by the preposition de.
parler (infinitive)
The base form of the verb ‘to speak’; it follows de because it is the action to be avoided.
fort (adverb)
An adverb meaning ‘loudly’; placed after the infinitive it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Évite de parler fort, s'il te plaît.
Please avoid speaking loudly.
D'accord, je vais baisser le volume.
Okay, I’ll lower my volume.
✕Common Mistakes
Évite parler fort.
The preposition de is required after éviter when it is followed by an infinitive.
Tu évite de parler fort.
In the imperative you drop the subject pronoun and conjugate the verb as Évite.
Évite de parler fortement.
‘Fortement’ is a synonym of ‘fort’ but is rarely used as an adverb after parler; ‘fort’ is the natural choice.
↔Alternatives
Ne parle pas fort.
Don’t speak loudly.
Fais moins de bruit.
Make less noise.
Veuillez parler plus doucement.
Please speak more quietly.
Cultural Tip
In French, the construction « éviter de + infinitif » is the standard way to ask someone not to do something. In very formal settings you might hear « Veuillez ne pas parler fort » or « Merci de parler plus doucement ». Remember that « fort » is an adverb here, not an adjective, so it never agrees with a noun.