Belgium

s’il vous plaît

“if it pleases you”

Meaning

here you are, said when handing something over

Elsewhere

voilà

Explanation

Standard French keeps s’il vous plaît for please. In Belgium, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy it is also what you say as you hand something over, where France would say voilà or tenez.

Example

Le facteur m’a tendu le colis en disant « s’il vous plaît ».

The postman handed me the parcel, saying "here you are."

Origin

Origin uncertain. Nothing on record explains why Belgium and the north of France also use it when handing something over.

Where

BelgiumNord-Pas-de-Calais, Picardie

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