Requests and politeness: how to ask politely with your voice
Short answer: Polite English depends on both words and melody. Add please, thank you and excuse me, and use a gentle rising-then-falling voice: Can I have water, please? A flat, hard or very fast voice can sound rude even with polite words. Stress the item (WAter), say can I softly, and keep the ending soft but clear.
▶ Open the sound card Practice →
At a glance
| Request | Stress | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Can I have water, please? | WAter, PLEASE | gentle, soft rise |
| Thank you. | THANK | warm, falls |
| Excuse me. | exCUSE | light, quiet |
| Could you help me? | HELP | gentle rise |
How to make the sound
- Start with a polite frame: Can I / Could you.
- Say the frame softly, and stress the item you want.
- Add please with a soft voice and a smile.
- Say thank you with a falling, warm tone.
Examples in sentences
- Can I have water, please?
Stress WAter and PLEASE: /kæn aɪ hæv ˈwɔtɚ pliz/. - Thank you.
Stress THANK: /ˈθæŋk ju/. - Excuse me.
Stress the second syllable: /ɪkˈskyuz mi/. - Could you help me?
Stress HELP. - May I come in?
Stress COME. - Please sit down.
Stress SIT.
Common problems
- Too loud or too hard: A hard voice can sound angry. Speak softly.
- Skipping please: Add please to make a request polite.
- Not saying the th in thank you: Put the tongue between the teeth: /θ/.
For Vietnamese speakers
- Polite forms in Vietnamese use words such as làm ơn; in English, melody matters as much as please.
- Practice /θ/ in thank slowly, then speed up.
Check yourself
- Which word makes a request polite?
Show the answer
please Say it softly.
- How should your voice sound?
Show the answer
Gentle. Soft, not hard.
- Which sound starts “thank”?
Show the answer
/θ/ Tongue between the teeth.
Questions
Is can polite enough?
Yes, for everyday requests. Could is a little more formal.
Does tone matter more than words?
Both matter. A rude tone can undo polite words.
How can I practice?
Say each request in a calm voice, then record yourself.
More lessons in this part
- Greetings & Introductions
- Asking & Answering
- Describing People & Things
- Telling Short Stories
- Real-Life Speaking Challenge
Part of the 👄 Pronunciation tool: Speaking & Communication. See also the English pronunciation guide. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30