Writing professional emails in French can feel intimidating especially when you want to sound polite, confident, and clear. Whether you’re applying for a job, communicating with colleagues, or contacting a university or company in a French-speaking country, specific expressions are expected.
The good news? You don’t need perfect French to send a professional email you need the right structure and useful phrases.
In this guide, you’ll learn the 20 most essential expressions used in business or academic emails in French, with explanations and examples you can copy and paste.
How to Start a Professional Email in French
In French, the greeting is often more formal than in English. Here are essential options depending on the context.
|
French Phrase |
Translation |
Best Context |
| Bonjour Madame / Monsieur, | Hello Madam / Sir, | Formal, general |
| Madame Dupont / Monsieur Martin, | Mrs. Dupont / Mr. Martin, | When you know the person’s name |
| Bonjour à tous, | Hello everyone, | Team / group message |
| Cher Monsieur / Chère Madame, | Dear Sir / Dear Madam, | Friendly but still formal |
Useful Phrases to Introduce Your Email
| French Phrase |
Translation |
| Je vous écris concernant… | I am writing to you regarding… |
| Suite à votre message… | Following your message… |
| Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de… | I am reaching out to you about… |
| Comme convenu… | As agreed… |
Example sentence:
➡️ Je vous écris concernant votre demande d’informations.
(I’m writing regarding your request for information.)
How to Make Requests Politely
| French Phrase | Translation |
| Pourriez-vous… ? | Could you…? |
| Serait-il possible de… ? | Would it be possible to…? |
| Auriez-vous la gentillesse de… ? | Would you be so kind as to…? |
| Merci de… | Thank you for (doing something). |
Example:
➡️ Pourriez-vous me confirmer la date de notre réunion ?
(Could you confirm the date of our meeting?)
Politely Closing an Email
|
French Phrase |
Translation |
| Dans l’attente de votre réponse… | I look forward to your reply…(formal) |
| Je reste à votre disposition pour toute information complémentaire. | I remain available for any additional information (formal). |
| Cordialement, | Sincerely, Kind regards (formal), |
| Bien à vous, |
Yours sincerely(informal), |
Example of a Complete Professional Email
Example 1 : mail concerning an offer
French version
Objet: Demande d’informations concernant votre offre
Bonjour Madame,
Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de votre offre publiée sur votre site internet.
Pourriez-vous m’envoyer plus de détails, notamment sur les horaires et les tarifs ?
Je vous remercie par avance pour votre réponse.
Cordialement,
Emma Johnson
English version:
Subject: Information Request Regarding Your Offer
Dear Madam,
I am contacting you regarding the offer you posted on your website.
Could you please send me more details, particularly regarding the schedule and rates?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
Sincerely,
Emma Johnson
Example 2 — Scheduling a Meeting
French Version:
Objet: Proposition de rendez-vous
Bonjour Monsieur Martin,
Je me permets de vous contacter pour planifier une réunion afin de discuter du projet en cours.
Serait-il possible de nous rencontrer mercredi ou jeudi à 10h ?
Je vous remercie par avance pour votre retour et reste à votre disposition pour toute information complémentaire.
Cordialement,
Sophie Durand
English Translation:
Subject: Meeting Proposal
Hello Mr. Martin,
I am reaching out to schedule a meeting to discuss the ongoing project.
Would it be possible to meet on Wednesday or Thursday at 10 a.m.?
Thank you in advance for your reply. I remain available for any additional information.
Kind regards,
Sophie Durand
Example 3 — Following Up on a Job Application
French Version:
Objet : Suivi de ma candidature
Bonjour Madame Dupont,
Je me permets de revenir vers vous concernant ma candidature pour le poste de Chargé de Marketing, envoyée le 10 novembre.
Auriez-vous des nouvelles à ce sujet ?
Je vous remercie pour votre temps et votre considération.
Cordialement,
Lucas Bernard
English Translation:
Subject: Follow-up on my application
Hello Mrs. Dupont,
I am following up regarding my application for the Marketing Officer position, sent on November 10.
Do you have any updates on this matter?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Lucas Bernard
Mastering professional email writing in French
It is your fast-track to standing out in the workplace or at university. With these 20 essential phrases, you’re not just learning words, you’re building confidence, professionalism, and credibility in every message you send.
Imagine sending an email that impresses your boss, client, or professor, knowing that your French is polished, clear, and professional. Every phrase you learn brings you closer to fluency that opens doors.
💡 Take action today: Don’t wait, practice, your next opportunity could be just one email away!