French Phrase
Aie ton modèle et ton numéro de série sous la main.
Meaning
The sentence is an informal command telling someone to keep both the model of a device and its serial number ready and easily accessible. It is often used before a phone call, a repair request, or any situation where that information will be needed quickly.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are preparing a customer for a support call, when you are about to fill out a warranty form, or any time you need the technical details of a product at hand. It is suitable in informal contexts (friends, colleagues) but would be formalized for a professional setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aietonmodèleettonnumérodesériesouslamain
Imperative of avoir (tu)
‘Aie’ is the second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘avoir’, used for informal commands.
Possessive adjective ‘ton’
‘ton’ agrees with masculine singular nouns (modèle, numéro) and means ‘your’.
Compound noun ‘numéro de série’
A fixed expression meaning ‘serial number’; the preposition ‘de’ links the two nouns.
Idiom ‘sous la main’
Literally ‘under the hand’, this idiom means ‘at hand’ or ‘within easy reach’.
Conjunction ‘et’
Simple coordinating conjunction meaning ‘and’.
🗨In Conversation
Aie ton modèle et ton numéro de série sous la main.
Have your model and serial number at hand.
D'accord, je les prépare tout de suite.
Okay, I’ll get them ready right away.
✕Common Mistakes
A ton modèle et ton numéro de série sous la main.
‘A’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘avoir’; the correct imperative for ‘tu’ is ‘Aie’.
Aie ton modèle et ton numéro de série sous le main.
The idiom is ‘sous la main’; ‘le’ changes the gender and makes the phrase ungrammatical.
Aie ton modèle et ton numéro de série sous la maines.
Do not add an ‘s’ to ‘main’; the expression stays singular.
↔Alternatives
Prépare ton modèle et ton numéro de série.
Prepare your model and serial number.
Garde ton modèle et ton numéro de série à portée de main.
Keep your model and serial number within reach.
Ayez votre modèle et votre numéro de série sous la main.
Have your model and serial number at hand. (formal/plural)
Cultural Tip
In French customer‑service contexts, the informal ‘tu’ form (Aie) is only used with people you know well. In a professional setting you would switch to the formal/plural imperative ‘Ayez’. The idiom ‘sous la main’ is very common in everyday speech and conveys a relaxed, practical tone. Remember that French speakers often ask for the ‘modèle’ and ‘numéro de série’ before troubleshooting a device.