Relocating to France from the United States: A Practical Guide

For many who live in the U.S., the idea of moving to France conjures up romantic visions: charming cafes, exquisite food and wine, high fashion, the Eiffel Tower. Those visions tend to leave out the details of what relocating to France actually entails. There’s the paperwork—lots of paperwork. Navigating a different culture. Not to mention getting the hang of French verb conjugations.

However, for professionals relocating to France for work, as well as HR leaders and others who support their organization’s expats, these details are a big deal. That dream assignment in France can quickly turn into a nightmare if you struggle to find the right apartment, fit in at your new office or even ask your neighborhood grocer a question. And when expats have problems, organizations have problems. The cost of a failed international relocation can soar to over $1 million.

At Fluency Corp, we’ve helped countless U.S. professionals build the language skills they need to thrive at work and in their personal lives when they relocate to France. Through this work, we’ve learned about all the other ins and outs of the immigration process. We’ve also seen just how big a difference preparation (including, but definitely not limited to, language training) makes during relocation. So we’ve rounded up some of the most important info, tips and strategies for moving from the U.S. to France.

Do Americans Need a Visa to Move to France?

Oui! The good news is that visa support for the expat employee and their family is part of a typical corporate relocation package.

Getting a visa will also likely be your introduction to French bureaucracy. “Red tape is a reality in France,” Jeremy Berthoux, president of Home Conseil Relocation, told us in an interview. Especially if you’re on your own in securing a visa, allow plenty of time. The process can take two to six months, Jeremy said.

One more quick note on visas: This information was up to date when we wrote this article in spring 2026. But you should always check official French government sources for the latest on visa requirements.

What Is France’s Cost of Living?

How far will your salary go in France? According to the crowdsourced database livingcost.org, the average cost of living in France is 30% lower than in the U.S. But before you start dreaming about a shopping spree at Le Bon Marché with all the extra cash you’ll suddenly have, you should know that any change in your cost of living depends on your unique situation.

The most important factors: Where do you currently live in the U.S.? And where will you be moving in France? Paris, which is home to about a quarter of all U.S.-born residents in France, has a lower cost of living than U.S. business centers like New York, San Francisco and Seattle. However, expats from other major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta and Denver, will likely find living in Paris more costly than what they’re used to.

But there’s much more to France than Paris, of course. Lyon, another common destination for U.S. residents moving to France, has a cost of living that’s comparable with Fluency Corp’s home city of Dallas, Texas, and less expensive than all the U.S. cities we listed above.

How Hard Is It to Find a Home in France?

It can be pretty difficult! If your employer is moving you to France, pay special attention to the housing support provided in your relocation package. And if you’re a corporate relocation or global mobility specialist, you should know that housing support is one of the most important factors in a successful move to France.

If you’re headed to an urban area like Paris, chances are your new home will be an apartment instead of a house. About two-thirds of residents in French cities live in flats. As an expat, you can rent or buy, but either option has its share of hurdles.

In our conversation with relocation expert Jeremy Berthoux, he told us that the rental market has fewer properties than potential tenants. “This tension enables landlords and realtors to pick and choose their tenants, which they do very carefully as French law is very protective of tenants and makes it very difficult for landlords and realtors to deal with issues linked to late or missing payments,” he said. Which means there’s probably a mountain of paperwork between you and an apartment.

No laws prohibit Americans from buying property in France. Just be aware that it may be harder to get a mortgage, and that owning property does not automatically give you the right to live in France. There’s no escaping that visa rigmarole.

What Should U.S. Families Know About Relocating to France?

Moving to France on your own is complicated enough. But relocating with a spouse and kids adds even more challenges. Whether you’re an expat yourself or it’s your job to support your organization’s expats, take family support very seriously. Family unhappiness is one of the major reasons that international relocations fail.

Your spouse may be able to continue working remotely for their U.S. employer. But if they need to job hunt in France, assistance from your employer can make a big difference. Unemployment in France is high right now, which can mean intense competition for roles. The do’s and don’ts of job hunting in France also differ from those in the U.S. Take resumes, or CVs. In the U.S., job hunters are advised not to include a photo or info about their hobbies and interests. In France, though, photos and a list of pastimes are common in resumes.

Most international relocations also include benefits that will help your kids adjust to life in France. Ask about whether your package includes help finding a school and childcare. You may even receive education stipends.

From our years of work with families relocating internationally, we can tell you that language training for the whole family (not just the expat employe) makes a huge difference in whether the move succeeds. You may be perfectly happy at work, but if your spouse and kids lack French language skills, they’re less likely to form the connections they need to thrive. And that brings us to this question …

How Much French Do Expats Need to Know?

France isn’t a country where you can comfortably get by on English, even in major cities. As relocation expert Jeremy Berthoux told us, French people are notoriously not great at speaking foreign languages, though he notes that’s less true in international workplaces. In smaller towns, English is rare.

The sooner you and your family can begin language lessons before your move to France, the better. You don’t need complete fluency (which is likely impossible in the time you have, unless you have previous experience with French). But every little bit helps in getting settled and adjusting to work and life in French.

If you’re choosing French language classes for yourself or other employees at your location, look for programs with instructors who are native speakers and with a format that includes lots of speaking practice. These two factors make all the difference in whether you can keep up with real-life conversations when you’re in France. It’s also essential that your French classes are tailored to the specific needs of you and your family. That means covering the specific vocabulary you need for your job (not just general “French for the workplace”) and your life. Whether it includes making friends with other parents, managing a medical condition or finding a D&D group.

Where Fluency Corp Comes In

Moving to France can be the adventure of a lifetime for you and your family. New friends, new experiences, new horizons in your career. With the right support and preparation, they’re all possible. We’re here to make the language piece of all that easier. We have a long track record with organizations across industries and clients learning languages around the world. We know how hectic international relocations can be, so we emphasize flexible online and in-person options. With either option, our clients work with native-speaker instructors who customize lessons to their needs, and have a knack for making learning fun. And if you’re on the support side, we think you’ll be glad to learn that we rigorously track progress and ensure regular check-ins.

Let’s talk more about relocations to France, whether you’re headed overseas yourself or you manage your company’s relocations. Schedule your free consultation now.

Is French Hard to Learn?

That’s the first question almost every prospective French learner asks. In a business context, there can be a lot riding on the answer. A U.S.-based professional might weigh that question when considering a Paris assignment. An HR leader needs to know the answer when selecting language training programs for their company. And a project manager in the U.S. who’s about to start collaborating with colleagues in Lyon might be wondering how much effort it takes to pick up a useful amount of French.

The honest answer is that French is one of the easier major world languages for English speakers. The U.S. State Department’s Foreign Service Institute classifies French as a Category I language. The easiest tier for native English speakers. A motivated adult can reach professional working proficiency in roughly 600 to 750 hours of focused study. That works out to about 24 to 30 weeks of full-time work. Compare that with the 2,200 hours required for Mandarin or Arabic, and French starts to look downright friendly.

That said, “easier than Mandarin” doesn’t mean “easy.” French has features that consistently trip up English speakers, like gendered nouns, silent letters and verb conjugations that shift across tenses. Realistically, learning French will feel at least moderately challenging for most Americans. Exactly how challenging it feels depends on your native language, your study habits and the quality of instruction you receive.

Why French Often Feels Familiar from Day 1

Most English speakers know more French than they realize. The Norman Conquest of 1066 installed French as the language of England’s court and government for nearly three centuries—long enough for wave after wave of French vocabulary to settle into English and stay. Modern estimates put the share of English words with French roots at about 30%.

That means a beginner often recognizes more French than they expect to. Words like boutique, café, garage, souvenir, encore, concierge, fiancé and résumé are nearly identical in both languages. Whole categories of vocabulary, like food, fashion, law, government, the arts, carry heavy French DNA. New learners are often surprised at how much they can read on a Paris street sign or in the headline of Le Monde.

A few other features tilt in English speakers’ favor:

  • Latin alphabet. No new writing system to memorize.
  • Familiar sentence structure. French and English both follow subject-verb-object word order most of the time.
  • No tones. Unlike Mandarin or Vietnamese, the pitch you use to say a word in French won’t change its meaning.
  • An enormous pool of resources. French is one of the world’s most-studied languages, and apps, courses, films and podcasts are everywhere.

Common Difficulties in Learning French

The challenges are real but predictable. Most learners struggle with the same handful of things.

Pronunciation

For most English speakers, this is the steepest climb. French has several sounds that don’t exist in English:

  • Nasal vowels (the “on” in bon, the “in” in vin, the “an” in enfant). You produce these sounds by routing some of the air through your nose, which feels strange at first.
  • The guttural R, made at the back of the throat. It’s closer to a gentle gargle than the rolling R of Spanish or Italian.
  • Silent letters at the ends of words. Beaucoup is pronounced “boh-koo.” Fils (son) is just “fees.” Most final consonants disappear unless followed by a vowel.

Then there’s liaison, the practice of linking words together so that a final silent consonant gets pronounced when the next word begins with a vowel. Vous avez sounds like “voo-zah-vay.” It’s smooth and musical when done right, and incomprehensible when you’re not used to it.

Gendered Nouns

Every French noun is either masculine or feminine. Le pain (bread) is masculine. La table is feminine. The gender determines which articles, adjective endings and pronouns you use with the noun, so guessing wrong can ripple through an entire sentence.

The frustrating part is that there’s no clean rule. Spanish gives you a fairly reliable guide (-o is masculine, -a is feminine), but French isn’t as cooperative. There are spelling patterns that point one way or the other (-tion words tend to be feminine; -ment words tend to be masculine), but they come with plenty of exceptions. The most reliable strategy is to learn each noun together with its article: not livre but un livre; not chaise but une chaise.

Verb Conjugations

French verbs change form based on the subject (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles) and the tense. Each combination has its own ending. There are three regular verb groups (-er, -ir, -re) and a long list of irregular verbs that follow their own rules.

Once you’ve internalized the patterns for the present, past and future tenses, you can apply them across hundreds of verbs. That’s the payoff. Getting there takes consistent practice over weeks and months.

Tricky Tense Distinctions

Two tenses give intermediate learners particular trouble. The passé composé and the imparfait both describe the past, but they’re used in subtly different ways, for example completed actions vs. ongoing or habitual ones. The subjunctive, used to express doubt, desire or emotion, has no clean parallel in modern English and tends to feel arbitrary to beginners.

Faux Amis

“False friends” are words that look identical or nearly identical in French and English but mean completely different things. Librairie is a bookstore, not a library. Actuellement means currently, not actually. Pain is bread. Coin is a corner. There are dozens of these traps, and they reward a careful study of vocabulary in context.

Spoken French at Native Speed

Classroom French is articulated and patient. Real French is fast, contracted and full of liaisons. Je ne sais pas (I don’t know) gets compressed to j’sais pas. Words bleed together. This is why even strong intermediate learners often understand their teacher fine and then struggle to follow a casual conversation at a Paris café or a fast-moving meeting in a Lyon conference room.

How Your Native Language Affects the Difficulty

Not every English speaker comes to French from the same starting line. Your first language, and any other languages you’ve studied along the way, shapes the climb.

If You Speak Only English

You’ll find French moderately challenging but very approachable, thanks to the shared vocabulary and similar sentence structure described above.

If You Speak Other Romance Languages

If you grew up speaking Spanish, Italian, Portuguese or Romanian, or you learned one of those languages later in life, you have a significant head start. The Romance languages all descend from Latin and share grammar structures and vocabulary roots. A fluent Spanish speaker may shave 30% to 40% off the typical timeline to French fluency.

If You Speak More Distant Languages

If your first language is Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean or Russian, expect the road to be longer.

The Stages of Learning French

Most learners report something like this:

  • Hours 1 to 100 feel slow. You’re laying foundations: pronunciation, basic vocabulary, present-tense verbs.
  • Around hour 200 or 300, things click. You can handle basic conversations and read simple texts.
  • By hour 400 or 500, you’ve reached real fluency. You’re thinking in French rather than translating in your head.
  • Past hour 600, the work shifts to refining vocabulary, smoothing rough edges and starting to sound natural.

For most professionals, B2 (the Common European Framework level often referred to as “professional working proficiency”) is the practical target. It’s the level at which you can take part in detailed discussions, write professional emails and interact spontaneously with native speakers. It’s also the level at which a French expat colleague may stop slipping back into English to make things easier on you.

How to Make French Easier to Learn

The right conditions can turn a hard slog into a steady climb. A few things matter most.

Native-Speaker Instructors

Native speakers teach French as it’s actually spoken, including the contractions, slang and cultural cues that textbooks miss. They can also explain French workplace norms, which matter as much as vocabulary when you’re trying to fit in at a Paris office or close a deal with a Lyon supplier. This is why Fluency Corp hires only native-speaker instructors.

Maximum Speaking Time

The fastest route to fluency is a class where students do most of the talking. If the instructor is lecturing more than the students are speaking, progress will stall. Look for programs where you’re speaking French at least 50% of class time.

Content That Matches Your Job

Memorizing textbook vocabulary won’t help you discuss quarterly forecasts with your Paris office. Effective training focuses on the language you’ll actually use; industry terminology, real workplace scenarios and the communication tasks specific to your role. At Fluency Corp, we use the Bellieu Method, which builds every conversation around your actual workday.

Outside-of-Class Practice

Live classes are the most important factor in fast progress. But you can speed things up further with the right at-home habits:

  • Stream French TV with French subtitles, not English. And choose reality shows and talk shows, which tend to use simpler, more conversational language.
  • Listen to podcasts designed for learners until you’re a strong B1, then graduate to podcasts made for native French audiences.
  • Read contemporary French fiction, not 19th-century classics. Books with lots of dialogue and current language work best.
  • Find a conversation partner through a language exchange app. Regular conversation practice is one of the fastest ways to build fluency.
  • Use language apps as supplements, not replacements. Duolingo, Babbel and Pimsleur are great for review between classes, but they won’t get you fluent on their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is French harder than Spanish?

For English speakers, French and Spanish are both FSI Category I languages, with roughly the same total study time to reach professional proficiency. French pronunciation is generally considered harder; Spanish grammar is sometimes considered slightly more complex. Most learners find them comparable in overall difficulty.

What’s the hardest part of learning French for English speakers?

Most learners point to pronunciation and gendered nouns. Pronunciation challenges the ear and the mouth. Gendered nouns challenge the memory.

Can I become fluent in French in a year?

With intensive study (15 to 25 hours per week) and quality instruction, you can reach B2 (professional working proficiency) in six to nine months. Casual study of one or two hours per week will take several years to produce conversational fluency.

Do I need to live in France to learn French?

No. Live, immersive classes with native-speaker instructors can produce fluency without relocating. Immersion accelerates progress, but it isn’t a prerequisite and many of our clients build real working fluency before they ever board a flight to Paris.

Take the Next Step Toward French Fluency

French rewards the effort. It’s challenging in a few specific, predictable ways and accessible in many more. The right combination of native-speaker instruction, customized content and consistent speaking practice makes a measurable difference in how quickly the language clicks.

At Fluency Corp, we build every lesson around what each language learner specifically needs for their job. All instructors are native French speakers with at least two years of teaching experience. Whether your classes happen online or in person, scheduling is flexible and progress is visible. Most clients see real improvement within the first 10 hours. Contact us for a free consultation and find out how quickly French can move from “hard” to “doable.”

Business French for Professionals: Essential Phrases & Cultural Tips

American colleagues grab coffee and dive straight into work talk. French colleagues need the proper greeting first, then small talk, then business. American meetings move fast and end with action items. French meetings involve thorough debate, and decisions happen outside the room.

To do business in French, you need the right vocabulary. But you also need to understand the culture beyond the language. That means understanding why vous matters, why you can’t skip bonjour and why your French colleague takes two-hour lunches without guilt. This guide covers the essential phrases you’ll need across some common workplace situations—along with the cultural context that makes them work.

A Note on Tu vs. Vous

Before going any deeper with using French for business, you need to understand the language’ two words for “you.” Tu is informal, used with friends, family and close colleagues. Vous is formal, used with strangers, superiors, clients and anyone you’ve just met in a professional context.

Use vous until the other person explicitly invites you to use tu. Using tu too soon can genuinely offend. In younger companies and startups, tu may be standard from Day 1, but in traditional corporate environments, some colleagues use vous for years.

The phrases below use vous forms because they’re the safest option. You’ll see tu forms in the more casual workplace phrases (coffee breaks, chatting with close colleagues).

Greetings & Small Talk

If you’re the kind of person who always says hi to others when you get to work, then you have a head start on learning how to communicate with French colleagues. Saying bonjour to everyone when you arrive at the office is considered basic respect. If you skip it, colleagues may decide that you’re rude or dismissive. The French take these small courtesies very seriously.

Common French Greetings to Use at Work

Salut / Ça va?

/sa.ly/ /sa va/

Hey, how’s it going?

“Ça va” is used morning until night. The response is also “Ça va. “Think of the exchange as: Ça va? (It’s going?) → Ça va. (It’ s going.) “Salut” is informal and doubles as “Bye!”

Ouais, ça va comme un lundi.

/wɛ/ /sa va/ /kɔm/ /œ̃/ /lœ̃.di/

Yeah, as good as a Monday can be.

A wry response to “Ça va?”(usable only on Mondays, of course).

Comment était ton week-end?

/kɔ.mɑ̃/ /e.tɛ/ /tɔ̃/ /wi.kɛnd/

How was your weekend?

This is an example of one of many English borrowings in modern French.

Bonne journée. / Bonne soirée.

/bɔn ʒuʁ.ne/ /bɔn swa.ʁe/

Have a good day. / Have a good evening.

À bientôt.

/a bjɛ̃.to/

See you soon.

Bonne continuation.

/bɔn kɔ̃.ti.ny.a.sjɔ̃/

All the best (going forward).

Wishing someone well with their ongoing work is a professional way to end an interaction.

On reste en contact.

/ɔ̃ ʁɛst ɑ̃ kɔ̃.takt/

Let’s stay in touch.

Professional Introductions

Business introductions in France are—you guessed it— formal. When you introduce yourself to a French speaker, use your first and last name, maintain eye contact and offer a light, brief handshake. Address others as Monsieur or Madame followed by their last name, unless they clearly invite you to use first names.

Never use Mademoiselle in business settings. It references marital status and is considered outdated and inappropriate.

Common French Phrases Used in Introductions

Je me présente, je suis…

/ʒə mə pʁe.zɑ̃t, ʒə sɥi/

Let me introduce myself, I am…

Enchanté(e) de faire votre connaissance.

/ɑ̃.ʃɑ̃.te də fɛʁ vɔtʁ kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃s/

Pleased to meet you.

If you’ve been introduced to someone via email or another form of written communication, use Enchanté if you’re male, Enchantée if you’re female. But you don’t have to worry about this in conversation: The words are pronounced the same way.

Je travaille chez…

/ʒə tʁa.vaj ʃe/

I work at…

Je suis responsable de…

/ʒə sɥi ʁɛs.pɔ̃.sabl də/

I’m in charge of…

Voici ma carte de visite.

/vwa.si ma kaʁt də vi.zit/

Here’s my business card.

Present and receive business cards respectfully—take a moment to look at the card before putting it away. Want to be extra thoughtful? Have one side translated into French.

French Meetings & Presentations

French meetings tend to follow a structured agenda. Expect thorough analysis, detailed discussion and a slower decision-making process than you might be used to from meetings in the U.S. The French value logical, well-articulated arguments, and they’re comfortable with debate.

In hierarchical companies, junior employees don’t speak up unless invited. Decisions are often made outside the meeting room, then presented to the group.

Je pars en réunion.

/ʒə paʁ ɑ̃ ʁe.y.njɔ̃/

I’m going to a meeting.

J’ai une conférence téléphonique.

/ʒe yn kɔ̃.fe.ʁɑ̃s te.le.fɔ.nik/

I have a conference call.

Pouvons-nous commencer?

/pu.vɔ̃.nu kɔ.mɑ̃.se/

Shall we begin?

J’aimerais ajouter quelque chose.

/ʒɛ.mʁɛ a.ʒu.te kɛl.kə ʃoz/

I’d like to add something.

Qu’en pensez-vous?

/kɑ̃ pɑ̃.se.vu/

What do you think?

Je suis d’accord.

/ʒə sɥi da.kɔʁ/

I agree.

Je ne suis pas sûr(e) de comprendre.

/ʒə nə sɥi pa syʁ də kɔ̃.pʁɑ̃dʁ/

I’m not sure I understand.

Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît?

/pu.ʁje.vu ʁe.pe.te sil vu plɛ/

Could you repeat that, please?

On fait le point.

/ɔ̃ fɛ lə pwɛ̃/

Let’s summarize / take stock.

Je te rappelle après ma réunion.

/ʒə tə ʁa.pɛl a.pʁɛ ma ʁe.y.njɔ̃/

I’ll call you after my meeting.

French Phone Etiquette

Business phone calls in French follow strict conventions. You’ll hear the same phrases in nearly every call—formal greetings, requests to hold, polite transfers. Remember, following these conventions isn’t optional. If you ignore them, others will consider you unprofessional.

It doesn’t take long to master these key phrases and ensure you’re ready for any call your job brings.

Allô, c’est… à l’appareil.

/a.lo sɛ… a la.pa.ʁɛj/

Hello, this is… speaking.

Je voudrais parler à…

/ʒə vu.dʁɛ paʁ.le a/

I’d like to speak to…

C’est de la part de qui?

/sɛ də la paʁ də ki/

Who’s calling?

You’ll hear this when you call a French office. Be ready with your name and company.

Ne quittez pas.

/nə ki.te pa/

Please hold.

Literally “Don’t leave.” This is the standard way to ask someone to wait on the line.

Je vous le/la passe.

/ʒə vu lə pas/ or /ʒə vu la pas/

I’ll put you through to him/her.

Email & Written Communication in French

Written French tends to be more formal than spoken French, even in business emails. We have a whole article about the key phrases and cultural knowledge you need to successfully email with French colleagues.

Here are a few of the most important phrases covered in that article.

Madame, Monsieur,

/ma.dam, mə.sjø/

Sir or Madam,

The safest greeting when you don’t know who will read your email. Think of it as “To Whom It May Concern,” but warmer. This is the standard greeting for initial contacts.

Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name],

/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ ma.dam/mə.sjø/

Hello Ms./Mr. [Name],

For everyday emails with people you know. Balances warmth and professionalism.

Je me permets de vous contacter pour…

/ʒə mə pɛʁ.mɛ də vu kɔ̃.tak.te puʁ/

I am taking the liberty of contacting you to…

Use when reaching out to someone for the first time. The formality shows respect.

Suite à notre conversation…

/sɥit a nɔtʁ kɔ̃.vɛʁ.sa.sjɔ̃/

Following our conversation…

The standard phrase for follow-up emails. Creates clear connection to previous interactions.

Pourriez-vous…

/pu.ʁje.vu/

Could you…

The conditional tense politely softens requests.

Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) de…

/ʒə vu sə.ʁɛ ʁə.kɔ.nɛ.sɑ̃(t) də/

I would be grateful if you could…

More formal than Pourriez-vous—use for important requests.

Veuillez trouver ci-joint…

/vœ.je tʁu.ve si.ʒwɛ̃/

Please find attached…

The standard way to reference attachments in French business emails.

Dans l’attente de votre réponse…

/dɑ̃ la.tɑ̃t də vɔtʁ ʁe.pɔ̃s/

Awaiting your response…

Signals you expect a reply. Sets up transition to sign-off.

Je reste à votre disposition

/ʒə ʁɛst a vɔtʁ dis.po.zi.sjɔ̃/

I remain at your disposal Shows you’re available for questions or follow-up.

Cordialement

/kɔʁ.djal.mɑ̃/

Best regards

The standard professional sign-off is appropriate for nearly any business situation.

Scheduling & Appointments in French

Punctuality matters in French business. Arriving on time shows respect. That said, don’t be surprised if meetings start a few minutes late; this is culturally acceptable. What’s not acceptable is rushing through an agenda or cutting a meeting short.

Êtes-vous disponible le…?

/ɛt.vu dis.pɔ.nibl lə/

Are you available on…?

Ça vous convient?

/sa vu kɔ̃.vjɛ̃/

Does that work for you?

On décale à quelle heure?

/ɔ̃ de.kal a kɛl œʁ/

What time shall we reschedule to?

Je dois annuler notre rendez-vous.

/ʒə dwa a.ny.le nɔtʁ ʁɑ̃.de.vu/

I need to cancel our appointment.

Je dois partir tôt ce soir.

/ʒə dwa paʁ.tiʁ to sə swaʁ/

I have to leave early today.

French Words for Breaks & Lunch

Business lunches can last one to two hours and are seen as opportunities to build relationships rather than close deals. Follow your host’ lead, pace yourself through multiple courses and don’t dive into business talk immediately.

The French also maintain a strong separation between work and personal life, protected by labor laws including the famous 35-hour workweek and the “right to disconnect” from work communications outside business hours.

Petite pause café, ça te dit?

/pə.tit poz ka.fe sa tə di/

How about a coffee break?

Où est-ce qu’on va manger?

/u ɛs.kə kɔ̃ va mɑ̃.ʒe/

Where shall we eat?

Vous venez manger avec nous?

/vu və.ne mɑ̃.ʒe a.vɛk nu/

Will you come eat with us?

Use vous to address a group, or a boss or coworker you don’t know well.

On part manger là.

/ɔ̃ paʁ mɑ̃.ʒe la/

We’re going out to eat over there.

Attends deux minutes, je dois me concentrer.

là. /a.tɑ̃ dø mi.nyt ʒə dwa mə kɔ̃.sɑ̃.tʁe la/

Two minutes please, I need to concentrate on this.

A polite way to ask a colleague to give you a moment to finish something.

Polite Requests & Thanks in French

Using courteous language like s’il vous plaît and je vous remercie is expected. The conditional tense (pourriez-vous, je voudrais) softens requests and shows respect.

Pourriez-vous m’aider avec…?

/pu.ʁje.vu mɛ.de a.vɛk/

Could you help me with…?

Je vous remercie de votre aide.

/ʒə vu ʁə.mɛʁ.si də vɔtʁ ɛd/

Thank you for your help.

Merci d’avance.

/mɛʁ.si da.vɑ̃s/

Thanks in advance.

C’est très gentil de votre part.

/sɛ tʁɛ ʒɑ̃.ti də vɔtʁ paʁ/

That’s very kind of you.

Pronunciation Key

The pronunciations in this guide use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Here are the sounds that differ from English.

Consonents

ʁ = French “r” (soft, produced in the throat)

ʒ = “zh” (as in “measure”)

ɲ = “ny” (as in “canyon”)

j = “y” (as in “yes”)

Vowels

y = “ew” with rounded lips (as in tu)

ø = “eu” (as in deux)

œ = open “eu” (as in heure)

Nasal vowels (let air flow through your nose)

ɑ̃ = as in en

ɔ̃ = as in on

ɛ̃ = as in in

Putting It All Together

Learning business French requires understanding the cultural values behind the vocabulary: formality, respect, courtesy and the clear boundaries between professional and personal life.

Your French-speaking colleagues and clients will appreciate the effort you put into respecting their communication style.

Ready to go beyond phrases? Fluency Corp offers customized corporate French training designed around your industry and goals. Our lessons focus on real workplace situations—meetings, negotiations, presentations, and client communication—so you can build fluency that matters. Contact us for a free consultation.

50 Essential Phrases for Professional French Emails

The U.S. is largely an informal country. If you’re like us, you start a lot of emails to colleagues with “Hey (colleague name).” In France, though, that would be a major faux pas. As we’ve helped countless English-speaking clients learn French (and French speakers learn English), we’ve noticed that emails are one of the most common cross-cultural stumbling blocks.

Even if you get all of the French vocabulary and syntax correct, there are also some unfamiliar etiquette rules to learn. Respecting those rules helps you communicate clearly and collaborate smoothly. But ignoring them can lead to possibly costly miscommunications and some very vexé French colleagues.

So today we want to give you a little taste of how we help our English-speaking clients prepare for emailing in French. We’ll cover some key French words and phrases for business communication. (Don’t worry: This will be a lot more relevant to your work than the French vocabulary lists you memorized in high school.) But we’ll also talk about the messages you’re sending between the lines.

And you’ll gain the cultural savvy you need to connect with French colleagues. We hope this article can be a resource for anyone who needs to write in French for work, for HR professionals who are supporting expats in French-speaking countries, and for international teams with French and English speakers.

The Key to Emails in French? Formality

To visualize the difference between emails in American English and those in French, let’s imagine two colleagues, separated by an ocean—and work cultures. Ashley lives in Atlanta. When she works from home or her favorite coffee shop, she wears her comfiest athleisure pieces. And even when she goes to the office, it’s not that much dressier.

Camille lives in Paris. She’s in the office every day, typically wearing a tailored blazer, slim trousers and leather flats. Even for a trip to the coffee shop on the weekend, she wears dark jeans, a fitted sweater and a classic trench coat.

Just as French fashion is more polished, French business communication runs on formality and politeness. Ashley opens her emails to American colleagues with a friendly “Hey!” On the other hand, Camille, like most other French professionals, expects polished greetings, elaborate closings and a consistent formal tone.

Here’s how that approach takes shape throughout an email.

Email Subject Lines in French

French subject lines should be brief and direct. We’re talking six to eight words maximum. Common formats include:

  • Demande de rendez-vous — “Meeting request”
  • Suite à notre conversation — “Following our conversation”
  • Question concernant [topic] — “Question regarding [topic]”
  • Candidature pour le poste de… — “Application for the position of…”

How to Start an Email in French

Madame, Monsieur,

This is the safest bet when you don’t know who will read your email. It’s the French equivalent of “To Whom It May Concern,” but it doesn’t carry the cold and bureaucratic tone of the English phrase. It’s also far more commonly used: “Madame, Monsieur” is standard practice for making an initial contact. Use either Monsieur, or Madame, when you know the recipient’s gender but not their name.

What not to do

Never use Mademoiselle. It references marital status, and it’s outdated and inappropriate in professional settings.

Other salutation phrases to know

  • Monsieur le Directeur, / Madame la Présidente, — “Mr. Director,” / “Madam President.” Use when you’re addressing someone by their professional title.
  • Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name], — “Hello Ms./Mr. [Name],.” For everyday emails with people you know, this greeting balances warmth and professionalism.
  • Cher Monsieur Dupont, / Chère Madame Martin, — “Dear Mr. Dupont, / Dear Ms. Martin,” — These greetings are warmer, but still formal. Use them when you have an established relationship with the recipient.
  • Bonjour à tous, — “Hello everyone.” Use this French salutation for group emails.

Stating the Purpose of Your Email in French

Je me permets de vous contacter pour…

(I am taking the liberty of contacting you to…)

This phrase is so French—it’s almost apologizing for the intrusion of your email. Use it when you’re reaching out to someone for the first time or making an unsolicited request. The formality shows respect for the recipient’s time.

Cultural note

Wait for the other person to suggest using first names or the informal tu (vs. vous) before making that shift yourself—even if you’ve exchanged several emails.

Other opening phrases to know

  • Je vous écris pour… — “I am writing to…” This is slightly more direct than Je me permets de vous contacter pour …
  • Je vous contacte au sujet de… — “I am contacting you regarding…”
  • Je souhaite vous informer que… — “I wish to inform you that…”

French Phrases for Follow-Up Emails

Suite à notre conversation…

Following our conversation…

This is the perfect French phrase for follow-up emails. The French value continuity, and this phrase creates a clear connection between your email and previous interactions.

Other follow-up phrases to know

  • Suite à notre entretien du [date]… — “Following our meeting on [date]…”
  • Comme convenu… — “As agreed…”
  • Pour faire suite à votre demande… — “In response to your request…”

Making Requests in French Emails

Je souhaiterais…

(I would like…)

The conditional tense softens requests in French business emails. Je souhaiterais is more polite than Je veux (I want). It’s appropriate for everything from requesting information to proposing meetings.

Pourriez-vous…

(Could you…)

When you need someone to take action, this conditional form keeps the request polite and undemanding. It helps you ask for something without appearing presumptuous.

Other request phrases to know

  • Auriez-vous l’amabilité de… — “Would you be so kind as to…” Very formal.
  • Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) de… — “I would be grateful if you could…”
  • Serait-il possible de… — “Would it be possible to…”
  • Je voudrais… — “I would like…” Slightly less formal.
  • J’aimerais… — “I would like…” Can also express wishes.
  • Nous souhaiterions organiser une réunion… — “We would like to arrange a meeting…”

French Phrases About Email Attachments

Veuillez trouver ci-joint…

(Please find attached…)

Attachments require their own announcement in French business emails. This phrase is the standard way to direct attention to documents you’ve included.

Other attachment phrases to know

  • Vous trouverez en pièce jointe… — “You will find attached…”
  • Je vous transmets ci-joint… — “I am sending you attached…”
  • Ci-joint le document demandé — “Attached is the requested document”

How to Close an Email in French

Dans l’attente de votre réponse…

(Awaiting your response…)

This phrase signals that you expect a reply, which is particularly useful when you’ve made a request or asked a question. It also sets up a professional transition to your sign-off.

Other closing phrases to know

  • Dans l’attente de votre confirmation… — “Awaiting your confirmation…”
  • Dans l’attente de vos commentaires… — “Awaiting your feedback… “
  • Je vous remercie par avance de votre réponse — “Thank you in advance for your response. “

Je reste à votre disposition

(I remain at your disposal)

This phrase lets the recipient know that you’re happy to answer questions or continue the conversation. It can stand alone or combine with your sign-off.

Other availability phrases to know

  • N’hésitez pas à me contacter — “Don’t hesitate to contact me.”
  • Je reste à votre entière disposition pour tout renseignement complémentaire — “I remain entirely at your disposal for any additional information.”

Cordialement

(Kind regards)

This is the safest bet among French email sign-offs—professional, warm enough and appropriate for nearly any business situation.

What not to do

Other sign-off phrases to know

  • Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame/Monsieur, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées — “Please accept, Madam/Sir, the expression of my distinguished regards.” The most formal closing, used in official correspondence and cover letters.
  • Sincères salutations — “Sincere regards” (formal)
  • Bien cordialement — “Best regards” (slightly warmer)

Putting It All Together

Of course, this article doesn’t cover all the French vocabulary you’ll need for sending emails in that language. But you might be surprised at how helpful it is to memorize the list of phrases here.

To test yourself, see how much of the below email you understand after reading this article:

Objet: Demande de rendez-vous

Madame, Monsieur,

Je me permets de vous contacter pour discuter d’une opportunité de collaboration entre nos entreprises.

Suite à notre conversation téléphonique de la semaine dernière, je souhaiterais organiser une réunion pour présenter notre proposition. Pourriez-vous m’indiquer vos disponibilités pour la semaine du 15 janvier?

Veuillez trouver ci-joint notre brochure et une présentation de nos services.

Dans l’attente de votre réponse, je reste à votre disposition pour tout renseignement complémentaire.

Cordialement,

Marie Laurent

Directrice des Partenariats

Fluency Corp

Now you know how to give emails the polish French colleagues expect. (Even if you’re wearing yoga pants when you send them. We won’t tell.) Let us know if you put this list to use yourself or share it with international colleagues.

For more support in mastering French business communication, get in touch with us at Fluency Corp. True confidence in using French at work comes from practice with a real person who can show you how French is really spoken and used in everyday life.

At Fluency Corp, our instructors are native French speakers who build lessons around your actual work: the emails you need to send, the meetings you’re preparing for, the colleagues you’re trying to connect with. We don’t do cookie-cutter curricula. Your instructor continuously adapts to your needs, and we track your progress with quarterly goals and reports. Contact us now for a free consultation.