Les formules de politesse du courrier

French politeness formulas work in pairs. You cannot mix a very formal greeting with a casual closing. It would feel like wearing a tuxedo with flip-flops! This system relies on the relationship between you and the recipient. It is all about "distance." If you don't know the person, you stay at a distance. You use formal words and the vous form. If they are a close friend, you close the distance. You use casual words and tu. The greeting sets the stage. The closing brings down the curtain. Most formulas use specific nouns like Monsieur (Mr.) or Madame (Mrs.). Unlike English, French rarely uses first names in professional settings. You focus on the title. It might feel a bit stiff at first, but it is actually quite comforting once you know the pattern.

1. 1Building a French email follows a strict four-step recipe. Follow these steps to ensure you never sound out of place:
2. 2The Greeting: Start with a formal title like Bonjour Monsieur or Madame. Always add a comma after it. Never use a first name unless you are friends.
3. 3The Body: Write your message. Use vous if you started with Monsieur/Madame. Use tu if you started with Salut.
4. 4The Closing: Select a formula that matches your greeting. Cordialement is the most common for professional use.
5. 5The Signature: Put your name on a new line. In formal letters, use your full name. For friends, just your first name works.
6. 6Yes, even native speakers find the very long formulas tricky sometimes! The key is consistency. If you start formal, stay formal until the very end.

Use these formulas every single time you write a message. In France, jumping straight into a question without a greeting is considered rude. Use formal formulas (Monsieur, Madame, Cordialement) when writing to:

• A potential employer for a job interview.
• A landlord about a rental apartment.
• A university professor or a teacher.
• A customer service representative.
• A doctor or a lawyer.

Use informal formulas (Salut, Bises, À bientôt) when writing to:

• Close friends you see often.
• Family members.
• Colleagues you have known for a long time (only if they use them first!).

Do not use very formal formulas like Je vous prie d'agréer... in a quick text message or a WhatsApp chat. It would be like giving a 20-minute speech just to say you are five minutes late! Also, avoid Cher or Chère for people you have never met. In English, we say "Dear Sir," but in French, Cher Monsieur implies you already have a friendly relationship. If you are writing to a stranger, just stick to Monsieur or Madame. Finally, do not use Bisous (kisses) with your boss. Unless you want a very awkward meeting with HR on Monday morning! Keep the kisses for your grandma and your besties.

One big mistake is forgetting the comma. In French, it is always Bonjour Monsieur, (with a comma). Another trap is mixing levels of formality. Don't start with Salut and end with Veuillez agréer.... That’s like a grammar identity crisis! Many learners also try to translate English phrases directly. "Sincerely" does not translate to Sincèrement in a letter; we use Cordialement. Also, watch out for capitalization. In English, we capitalize every word in "Yours Faithfully." In French, we only capitalize the first word: Bien à vous. Finally, don't forget gender! Monsieur is for men, Madame is for women. If you aren't sure who will read the email, use Madame, Monsieur,.

In English, we have a few standard options: "Hi," "Dear," "Best," and "Sincerely." French has a much wider spectrum. For example, Cordialement is the "gold standard" for work. It is like English "Best regards" but slightly more professional. Bien à vous is a bit warmer, like "Kind regards." If you want to be super formal, you use the "long formulas" involving the verb agréer. These don't really exist in modern English emails anymore. On the casual side, French has many ways to say goodbye. Bises and Bisous are very common between friends, whereas English speakers might just say "Cheers" or "Later." French is more specific about the emotional weight of the closing.