What are common French phrases for email greetings
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Common French phrases for email greetings vary based on formality and the relationship between the sender and recipient.
Formal Greetings for Email
- “Monsieur,” (Dear Sir,)
- “Madame,” (Dear Madam,)
- “Cher Monsieur,” / “Chère Madame,” (Dear Sir / Dear Madam,)
- “Madame, Monsieur,” (Dear Sir or Madam,) - when the recipient is unknown or plural
- If the recipient’s title is known, use it, e.g., “Madame la Directrice,” (Madam Director), “Monsieur le Professeur,” (Mr. Professor)
- Special titles: “Maître,” (for a lawyer), “Docteur,” (for a doctor)
- “À qui de droit,” (To whom it may concern)
Informal Greetings for Email
- “Bonjour” (Hello/Good day)
- “Bonsoir” (Good evening)
- “Salut” (Hi, informal)
- “Coucou” (Hi, informal and more intimate)
- Simply the recipient’s first name followed by a comma (e.g., Géraldine,)
Tips
- Use “Monsieur” or “Madame” followed by a last name for respectful formal emails.
- For casual emails to friends or family, greetings like “Salut” or “Bonjour” are common.
- French emails often begin with the greeting followed by a comma, then a line break before the message body.
These phrases can be adapted depending on the context (professional, casual, unknown recipient) and degree of formality desired in the email.