Learning French is an exciting challenge but learning French for the workplace is a strategic advantage. Whether you want to work in France, collaborate with French-speaking colleagues, or simply feel more confident in professional situations, building the right vocabulary is essential.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- useful workplace expressions
- sector-specific vocabulary (business, restaurant, hospitality, IT, customer service, tourism)
- example sentences used in real professional contexts
- mini practice exercises
- Let’s get started.
Core French Workplace Vocabulary
Before diving into specific professions or field, here are key expressions used in any work environment.
Key Verbs
| Verbe | English | Example |
| travailler | to work | Je travaille dans une entreprise internationale.
→ I work in an international company. |
| gérer | to manage | Elle gère une équipe de cinq personnes.
→ She manages a team of five people. |
| organiser | to organize | Je dois organiser une formation demain.
→ I need to organize a training session tomorrow. |
| envoyer | to send | Il envoie un e-mail important au directeur.
→ He is sending an important email to the director. |
| recevoir | to receive | Nous recevons beaucoup de demandes chaque jour.
→ We receive many requests every day. |
| vérifier | to check | Peux-tu vérifier les documents ?
→ Can you check the documents? |
| préparer | to prepare | Ils préparent un nouveau projet.
→ They are preparing a new project. |
| contacter | to contact | Je vais contacter le fournisseur.
→ I will contact the supplier. |
| signer | to sign | Le client doit signer le contrat.
→ The client must sign the contract. |
Other examples:
- Je dois envoyer un e-mail au client. → I need to send an email to the client.
- Nous allons organiser une réunion demain. → We will organize a meeting tomorrow.
Useful Expressions for Communication
| Expression | Meaning |
| Je suis disponible. | I am available. |
| C’est urgent. | It’s urgent. |
| Je vous rappelle. | I’ll call you back. |
| Merci pour votre patience. | Thank you for your patience. |
| Puis-je vous aider ? | Can I help you? |
Business French Vocabulary
If you work in administration, marketing, finance or corporate environments, this is your section.
Key Business Terms
| Verbe | Meaning | Example |
| présenter | to present | Je vais présenter les résultats lors de la réunion.
→ I will present the results during the meeting. |
| analyser | to analyze | Nous analysons les données du trimestre.
→ We are analyzing quarterly data. |
| négocier | to negotiate | Elle négocie les prix avec les partenaires.
→ She is negotiating pricing with partners. |
| approuver | to approve | Le directeur doit approuver le budget final.
→ The director must approve the final budget. |
| planifier | to plan | Nous planifions un nouvel événement professionnel.
→ We are planning a new business event. |
Other Useful Business Sentences
- Nous devons respecter le budget.
→ We must stay within budget. - Je participe à une réunion avec l’équipe marketing.
→ I’m attending a meeting with the marketing team. - Le contrat sera signé demain.
→ The contract will be signed tomorrow.
French for the Restaurant & Hospitality Sector
If you work in a restaurant, café, hotel, or tourism service, these expressions are essential. This podcast: “How to order food, ask for the bill, and make a reservation”, will help you.
Restaurant Vocabulary
| French | English |
| le serveur / la serveuse | waiter / waitress |
| le chef | chef |
| la carte | menu |
| la commande | order |
| une addition | bill |
| une réservation | reservation |
| un plat | dish |
| un dessert | dessert |
| Verbe | Meaning | Example | ||
| servir | to serve | Je sers deux cafés et un croissant.
→ I am serving two coffees and a croissant. |
||
| recommander | to recommend | Je recommande le plat du jour, il est excellent.
→ I recommend the daily dish, it’s excellent. |
||
| réserver | to book | Souhaitez-vous réserver une table pour ce soir ?
→ Would you like to book a table for tonight? |
||
| préparer | to prepare | Le chef prépare un dessert maison.
→ The chef is preparing a homemade dessert. |
||
| encaisser | to charge / cash out | Je vais encaisser votre addition.
→ I will process your bill. |
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Useful Restaurant Phrases
- Bienvenue, vous avez une réservation ?
→ Welcome, do you have a reservation?
- Que souhaitez-vous boire ?
→ What would you like to drink?
- Votre table sera prête dans cinq minutes.
→ Your table will be ready in five minutes.
French for Customer Service
Customer service requires polite formal language:
Formal Politeness Vocabulary
| French | English |
| Pourriez-vous… ? | Could you…? |
| Je vous en prie. | You’re welcome (formal). |
| Un instant, s’il vous plaît. | One moment please. |
| Je comprends votre situation. | I understand your situation. |
| Nous allons trouver une solution. | We will find a solution. |
| Verbe | English | Example |
| résoudre | to resolve | Je vais résoudre ce problème immédiatement.
→ I will solve this issue immediately. |
| assister | to assist/help | Je suis ici pour vous assister.
→ I am here to assist you. |
| expliquer | to explain | Puis-je vous expliquer les étapes ?
→ May I explain the steps to you? |
| informer | to inform | Nous allons vous informer dès que possible.
→ We will inform you as soon as possible. |
| confirmer | to confirm | Je confirme votre demande.
→ I confirm your request. |
Example Dialogue
Agent: Bonjour, comment puis-je vous aider ?
Client: J’ai un problème avec ma commande.
Agent: Je suis désolé(e). Je vais vérifier immédiatement.
→ Using “désolé(e)” and reassuring expressions helps maintain professionalism.
French for IT & Tech
Technology jobs require precise vocabulary. Here is a quick glossary:
| French | English |
| un développeur / une développeuse | developer |
| un logiciel | software |
| une mise à jour | update |
| un bug | bug |
| le réseau | network |
| un serveur | server |
| le système | system |
| les données | data |
| Verbe | English | Example |
| installer | to install | J’installe un nouveau logiciel sur votre ordinateur.
→ I’m installing new software on your computer. |
| développer | to develop | Elle développe une application mobile.
→ She is developing a mobile app. |
| tester | to test | Nous devons tester le système avant le lancement.
→ We must test the system before release. |
| corriger (un bug) | to fix a bug | Il corrige un bug dans le code.
→ He is fixing a bug in the code. |
| sauvegarder | to back up | Pense à sauvegarder tes données.
→ Remember to back up your data. |
Useful IT Sentences
- Le système doit être mis à jour.
→ The system needs to be updated.
- Il y a un bug dans l’application.
→ There is a bug in the application.
- Pouvez-vous envoyer les données ?
→ Can you send the data?
French for Tourism & Travel
| French | English |
| un guide touristique | tour guide |
| une visite guidée | guided tour |
| un billet | ticket |
| un monument | monument |
| l’hébergement | accommodation |
| Verbe | English | Example |
| accueillir | to welcome | Nous accueillons les visiteurs à l’entrée.
→ We welcome visitors at the entrance. |
| guider | to guide | Je guide un groupe de touristes français.
→ I guide a group of French tourists. |
| expliquer | to explain | Je leur explique l’histoire du monument.
→ I explain the history of the monument to them. |
| réserver | to book | Ils réservent un hôtel pour trois nuits.
→ They are booking a hotel for three nights. |
| conseiller | to recommend/advise | Pouvez-vous me conseiller un restaurant ?
→ Can you recommend a restaurant to me? |
Examples:
- La visite commence à 10h. → The tour starts at 10 a.m.
- Avez-vous besoin d’informations ? → Do you need information?
Emails & Formal Writing in French
Professional written French tends to be more formal than English.
| Expression | Translation |
| Je vous contacte concernant… | I am contacting you regarding… |
| Pourriez-vous… ? | Could you…? |
| Merci d’avance. | Thank you in advance. |
Email Structure
| Section | Example | ||
| Opening | Bonjour Madame Dupont, | ||
| Purpose | Je vous contacte concernant… | ||
| Request | Pourriez-vous m’envoyer… ? | ||
| Closing | Cordialement, / Bien à vous, | ||
Email example
Subject: réunion de demain (Meeting tomorrow)
Bonjour Monsieur Durand, (Hello Mr. Durand)
Je vous contacte pour confirmer notre réunion de demain à 14h.
I’m contacting you to confirm our meeting tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Merci de me prévenir si vous souhaitez modifier l’horaire.
Please let me know if you would like to change the time.
Cordialement, (Sincerely)
Julie Bernard
Mini Practice Exercise
Match the French sentence to the correct translation:
- Je vais préparer le rapport.
- Votre table sera prête bientôt.
- Le système doit être mis à jour.
- Puis-je parler à votre responsable ?
- Je suis disponible cet après-midi.
Translations:
A. Your table will be ready soon.
B. Can I speak to your manager?
C. The system must be updated.
D. I will prepare the report.
E. I am available this afternoon.
Answers:
1 → D
2 → A
3 → C
4 → B
5 → E
Conclusion
Learning French for work is more than memorising vocabulary it’s about understanding context, communication style and confidence.
Whether you’re in a restaurant, hotel, office, IT company, or tourism industry, using the right expressions helps you:
- sound professional
- build better relationships
- succeed in a French-speaking environment
If you’re ready to go further, continue practicing with:
- role-plays
- real work emails
- conversation with native speakers
Your Next Step Toward Professional French Confidence
Learning French for work is more than memorising vocabulary — it’s about understanding context, adapting your communication style, and developing real confidence.
Whether you’re working in a restaurant, a hotel, an office environment, an IT company, or in tourism, using the right expressions helps you:
- sound more credible and confident
- communicate clearly and professionally
- build stronger relationships with colleagues and clients
- succeed in a French-speaking environment
To continue improving, practice regularly with:
- realistic role-plays
- authentic business emails
- speaking practice with native or trained speakers
- real workplace situations such as calls, meetings, and presentations
Every conversation, every new expression, and every mistake is a step forward — and with time, professional French becomes not just something you learn, but something you use naturally.
If you want personalised guidance with real-life practice adapted to your field, you can book a lesson with me.
Together, we’ll work on:
- pronunciation and fluency
- job-specific vocabulary
- useful professional expressions
- confidence for interviews, meetings, and workplace communication
Ready to feel confident in professional French?
Click here to book your lesson and start speaking French with ease and professionalism.
Your French-speaking career starts with one confident sentence and I’d love to help you say it.
Julie