Business French: Essential Vocabulary to Master

Working in a French-speaking environment isn’t just about speaking French correctly. To collaborate effectively, participate in meetings, write professional emails, or thrive in an international team, you need to master business French.

Let’s take a closer look at the key terms and expressions used in French workplaces!

Must-Know Expressions for Meetings

To express yourself confidently during meetings, remember these common phrases:

• Fixer l’ordre du jour (set the agenda): outline the topics for discussion. For example: “Pourriez-vous fixer l’ordre du jour avant la réunion de demain ?” (“Could you set the agenda before tomorrow’s meeting? »)
• Faire un tour de table (go around the table): give everyone a chance to speak. For example: “Faisons un tour de table pour connaître l’avis des différents services.” (“Let’s go around the table to hear from each department. »)
• Prendre la parole (take the floor / speak up): interject to share your opinion. For example: “Je souhaiterais prendre la parole pour clarifier un point.” (“I’d like to take the floor to clarify a point. »)
• Faire le point (take stock / touch base): review progress on a project. For example: “Faisons le point sur les étapes réalisées avant de poursuivre.” (“Let’s take stock of what we’ve accomplished before moving forward. »)
• Rédiger le compte rendu (write up the minutes): summarize decisions in writing. For example: “Peux-tu rédiger le compte rendu et le transmettre à l’équipe ?” (“Can you write up the minutes and send them to the team?”)

You’ll hear these expressions daily across all departments—whether in marketing, finance, or human resources. Mastering them will help you participate actively and build credibility.

Writing Professional Emails

Email remains your primary communication tool in the workplace. The style of French emails is often more formal than in other cultures, so it’s important to follow certain conventions. 

Here’s the recommended structure:

• The opening: “Madame, Monsieur,” when you don’t know the recipient, “Bonjour Madame Martin,” for a known contact.
• The body: Use professional and courteous phrases like “Suite à notre échange, je me permets de revenir vers vous…” (“Following our discussion, I wanted to follow up with you…”) or “Pourriez-vous me préciser…?” (“Could you please clarify…?”)
• The closing: “Je vous remercie par avance pour votre retour.” (“Thank you in advance for your response.”), followed by “Cordialement” (Kind regards) or “Bien cordialement” (Best regards).

It’s recommended to reply within a reasonable timeframe to demonstrate your professionalism and reliability.

For effective professional email writing, make sure to learn key French expressions (see the article “Professional French Emails: Essential Expressions“) and avoid the 10 most common spelling mistakes in French professional emails.

Human Resources: Understanding Employment Contracts

In the French professional world, you’ll encounter several types of contracts:

• CDI (Contrat à Durée Indéterminée): permanent, open-ended contract
• CDD (Contrat à Durée Déterminée): fixed-term contract with an end date
• Intérim: short-term assignments through a temp agency
• Stage: internship or training period

Your pay stub (fiche de paie) will include several key elements: salaire brut (gross salary), salaire net (net salary), primes(bonuses), congés payés (paid vacation), and avantages en nature (benefits in kind) such as tickets restaurant (meal vouchers) or voiture de fonction (company car). Understanding this vocabulary is essential for navigating the French job market with confidence.

Finance and Accounting: Basic Terminology

Even if you don’t work in finance, you’ll often come across these terms:

• Chiffre d’affaires (CA / revenue): revenue or total sales
• Bénéfice: profit—the positive result after deducting expenses
• Déficit: deficit—when expenses exceed income
• Trésorerie: cash flow or available funds
• Budget prévisionnel: projected budget—an estimate of future expenses and income

Understanding this vocabulary will help you follow your company’s financial situation and participate in business discussions.

Professional French Idioms

Speaking like a native French speaker also means using idiomatic expressions:

• Faire du chiffre (hit your numbers): generate high sales numbers
• Être dans le rouge (be in the red): be in a negative financial situation
• Boucler un dossier (wrap up a project / close out a file): finish a project
• Mettre la main à la pâte (roll up your sleeves / pitch in): get actively involved
• Avoir carte blanche (have carte blanche / have free rein): have complete freedom to act

These expressions give your professional French a natural, authentic tone.

How to Improve Your Business French

Here are some tips to rapidly improve your skills:

• Read French-language business press
• Listen to podcasts about the professional world
• Regularly write meeting minutes
• Participate in French-language meetings or workshops
• Immerse yourself as much as possible in workplace French

By combining reading, listening, and active practice, you’ll quickly transform your professional French into a real asset in your daily work life!

Want to perfect your business French? Join La French Zone today for online French courses tailored to working professionals and their schedules.