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prier

to pray

verb pree-YEH Common
Mind & Emotions Attitudes

Also means

to beg, to beseech

Usage Note

Prier covers both religious prayer and the polite formula je vous en prie ('you're welcome' / 'please, go ahead'), which is one of the most common courteous responses in French. In formal written invitations, vous êtes priés de means 'you are kindly requested to.' The noun la prière means both prayer and an earnest request.

Examples

"Je vous en prie, asseyez-vous."

Natural Translation

Please, have a seat.

Literal Translation

I you of it pray, sit yourselves.

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