I'm writing a request to a hotel in Montreal and I'm trying it in French. I'm having trouble with the word for "request" as my translator says to use the verb "demander". Is this the word I should use? I do not want to demand anything,just a polite request.

I understand a hotel in Montreal can respond to requests in English, but I like to use my limited French every once in a while. It's a simple request and this is my only problem.

Merci

"Demander" in French just means "to ask." But it doesn't exactly mean "request" either - it's more asking in the sense of asking a question. You might try to work around it by saying something like "if it's possible, we would like ..."

"Demander" does not mean "to demand" but "to ask for/request". It's one of those false cognates. A francophone will not think you're being demanding when you use this verb. "Exiger" as a verb means "to demand".

e.g. "Je lui ai demandé un chambre avec une salle de bain privé" I requested a room with a private bathroom.
"Je voudrais demander une petite question" I would like to ask a little question

Got it. Thank you Daniel and Meesthare.

"Demande" means request, as in "demande de renseignements" or request for information. Like the other posters said, "demander" is the verb "to ask/request".

8th-9th grade French. Its coming back.

Lovely. Good question DanB.