Professional French Emails: Essential Expressions

Email is the #1 communication tool in the French workplace. Whether you’re sending a job application or following up with a client, mastering the rules of professional French emails is essential.

Discover the French expressions you need to know for your professional email exchanges!

Essential Expressions for Starting a Professional Email

A professional email in French always begins with an appropriate greeting. Your choice depends on the relationship you have with the recipient. If you’re close to a colleague, you can use a more casual tone.

• For a work colleague you’re on familiar terms with: “Bonjour (first name)”
• For a client: “Bonjour Monsieur (last name)”
• For an unknown recipient: “Madame, Monsieur”
• For a director: “Madame la Directrice / Monsieur le Directeur”

Note: “Bonjour” means “Hello/Good morning” and is the standard professional greeting in French.

Did you know? 

You can also say “Bonjour (first name)” to a director, but this depends on the company culture.

How to Write the Body of a Professional Email Effectively

The key to a successful email body is to get straight to the point from the first paragraph:

• “Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de…” (I am writing to you regarding…)
• “Je reviens vers vous concernant…” (I’m getting back to you about…)
• “Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) de bien vouloir…” (I would be grateful if you could…)
• “Comme convenu lors de notre réunion Zoom,…” (As agreed during our Zoom meeting…)
• “Suite à notre conversation téléphonique…” (Following our phone conversation…)

Did you know?

It’s important to structure your text in short, well-spaced paragraphs. A good professional email should not exceed four paragraphs, or it risks being too heavy to read.

Essential Expressions for Concluding a Professional Email

Just like with the opening greeting, it’s essential to write a closing formula that’s appropriate for your recipient.

In a casual context, you can use these expressions:

• “Bien à toi / Bien à vous” (Best regards)
• “Excellente journée” (Have a great day)
• “Cordialement” (Kind regards)

In a more formal context, you can use these phrases:

• “Je vous prie de croire, Madame, Monsieur, à ma considération distinguée” (Please accept, Madam/Sir, my distinguished consideration)
• “Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées” (Please accept, Madam/Sir, the expression of my distinguished greetings)
• “Veuillez recevoir, Madame la Directrice, l’assurance de ma considération distinguée” (Please receive, Madam Director, the assurance of my distinguished consideration)

Don’t forget to specify the subject line of your email. It should not exceed 5 to 8 words. 

Remember to include your signature at the end of your electronic message – at minimum your full name, or just your first name if it’s someone close to you.

Managing Attachments Professionally

If you’re sending a document to your recipient, it’s important to mention it:

• “Ci-joint, les plannings des semaines à venir” (Attached, the schedules for the coming weeks)
• “Recevez ci-joint (ou ci-jointes), les pièces demandées” (Please find attached the requested documents)
• “Recevez les pièces ci-jointes” (Please find the attached documents)

Pay attention to the spelling rules for “ci-joint.” At the beginning of a sentence, it’s always invariable. Before the noun it refers to, it may or may not agree (your choice). Placed after the noun, it agrees with it.

Remember to write a clear and descriptive file name and make sure you’re sending the right document!

French Professional Emails: Mistakes to Avoid

When writing a professional email in French, 3 mistakes must be avoided at all costs:

• Forgetting to proofread your email: If you don’t reread your message, you risk forgetting to send a document, or worse, leaving spelling and grammar mistakes! French speakers are very strict about spelling. This can make a bad impression.
• Using casual language or slang: Don’t use informal expressions and especially not the pronoun “tu,” unless your recipient is someone close to you. French people use formal language in professional correspondence.
• Adding emojis: Emojis have no place in professional emails.

You now have all the tools you need to write a good professional email in French. Want to learn the language of Molière for work? La French Zone is here to help. Thanks to my online French courses, you’ll be able to easily integrate into the French workplace.