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French · Professional · B1 to C1

Business French: vouvoiement, formules de politesse and la réunion

Signing off an email · from warm to very formal
Cordialement,the everyday default
Cordialement,cordially
kor-dyal-MAN · “Kind regards,”Why: The safest sign-off for almost any professional email.

Short answer: professional French starts with vous: le vouvoiement. Colleagues may move to tu (le tutoiement), but wait to be asked: On se tutoie ? Emails open with Madame, / Monsieur, or Bonjour Madame Leroy, and close with a formule de politesse ranging from Bonne journée to the long, very formal Je vous prie d’agréer…. A meeting is une réunion, a quote un devis, an invoice une facture, and a deadline une échéance or un délai.

Who to vouvoyer

Vous, tu, and the bise

PersonUseNote
client, suppliervousAlways, unless they suggest tu.
your managervousOften for years, especially in large companies.
colleague, same leveltuCommon after a few days; start-ups use tu at once.
someone oldervousLet them offer tu.
the morning greetingbonjour + la bise or a handshakeLa bise (cheek kiss) at work varies by office and region; follow others.
Onwese tutoie ?ourselves call-tu
on suh tü-TWA · “Shall we use tu?”Why: se tutoyer = to call each other tu. On = we in speech.
Vousyoupouvezcanmemetutoyer.call-tu
voo poo-VAY muh tü-twa-YAY · “You can call me tu.”Why: An offer. The vous form is still used in the offer itself.
Running a meeting

L’ordre du jour, le compte rendu

l’ordre du jouragenda · before la réunionmeeting · during le compte renduminutes · after
Le compte rendu (the minutes) is usually sent the same day. Faire le point means to take stock.
Ouvrir
Onwepeutcancommencer ?start
on PUH ko-man-SAY · “Shall we start?”Why: A light, natural opener.
L’ordre du jour
Premier pointfirst pointà l’ordre du jour :on the agendale budget.the budget
pruh-MYAY PWAN a lor-druh-dü-ZHOOR : luh büd-ZHAY · “First item on the agenda: the budget.”Why: l’ordre du jour = the agenda.
Proposer
JeIproposesuggestqu’onthat-ween parleof-it speakjeudi.Thursday
zhuh pro-POZ kon an PARL zhuh-DEE · “I suggest we discuss it on Thursday.”Why: proposer que + subjunctive. parle is both indicative and subjunctive here. en = about it.
Être d’accord
Je suisI amtout à faitcompletelyd’accord.in agreement
zhuh swee too ta FAY da-KOR · “I completely agree.”Why: tout à fait = completely, absolutely.
Nuancer
JeIne suis pasam notsûrsurequethatce soitit bepossible.possible
zhuh nuh swee pa SÜR kuh suh SWA po-SEEBL · “I’m not sure that’s possible.”Why: After ne pas être sûr que, the subjunctive (soit) shows doubt.
Conclure
JeIvous envoieto-you sendle compte rendu.the minutes
zhuh voo zan-VWA luh kont RAN-dü · “I’ll send you the minutes.”Why: The liaison joins vous and envoie: voo-zan-VWA.
Core business words

Le devis, la facture, l’échéance

Business calls

Je vous le passe

Answering
Société Martin,Martin companybonjour.hello
so-syay-TAY mar-TAN, bon-ZHOOR · “Martin company, good morning.”Why: Company name first, then bonjour.
Asking for someone
Pourrais-jecould-Iparler àspeak toMme Leroy ?Mrs Leroy
poo-RAYZH par-LAY a ma-DAM luh-RWA · “Could I speak to Mrs Leroy?”Why: Pourrais-je is the polite conditional.
Transferring
JeIvousto-youle passe.him pass
zhuh voo luh PAS · “I’ll put you through.”Why: passer quelqu’un = to put someone through.
Message
Puis-jemay-Ilaisserleaveun message ?a message
pwee-zh le-SAY an may-SAZH · “Can I leave a message?”Why: Puis-je: formal question form of pouvoir.
Email phrases

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