How to Write an Email in French: Formal and Casual Templates
Two full French email templates - formal and casual - with the exact openers, connector phrases, and closers, including why cordialement beats the fancy ones.
Formal French emails open with Madame, Monsieur (unknown recipient) or Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name], and close with cordialement - the modern safe default (older forms like veuillez agréer… still exist but read as old-fashioned). Casual emails open with Salut/Coucou and close with à bientôt or bises among close friends.
Quick answer
Formal French emails open with Madame, Monsieur (unknown recipient) or Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name], and close with cordialement - the modern safe default (older forms like veuillez agréer… still exist but read as old-fashioned). Casual emails open with Salut/Coucou and close with à bientôt or bises among close friends.
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Formal email template
Opener: Madame, Monsieur (no name known), or Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name]. Body connectors: je vous contacte au sujet de… (I’m contacting you regarding…), je vous prie de bien vouloir… (please kindly…). Closer: cordialement - the safe modern default; veuillez agréer… exists but is old-fashioned, cordialement is what actually gets used now. For more professional vocabulary, see business French essentials.
Casual email template
Opener: Salut/Coucou [Name]. Body connectors: je voulais te dire… (I wanted to tell you…), du coup… (so…/as a result…). Closer: à bientôt, bises for close friends.
The connector phrase toolkit
Reusable across both registers: suite à… (following up on…), concernant… (regarding…), n’hésitez pas à me contacter (feel free to contact me). See also French connecting words.
| Register | Opener | Closer |
|---|---|---|
| Formal | Madame, Monsieur | cordialement |
| Casual | Salut/Coucou [Name] | à bientôt / bises |
Common mistakes
Using an over-formal closer in a casual context (jarring); forgetting the comma after the greeting name - Bonjour Marie, is correct French punctuation, the comma is required. See tu vs vous for the register choice this all hinges on.
Emails that read naturally
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Questions about this note
How do you start a formal French email?
Madame, Monsieur, if you don't know the recipient, or Bonjour Madame/Monsieur [Name].
What's the safest way to close a French email?
Cordialement - professional, neutral, and current.
Is veuillez agréer… still used?
It exists but reads as old-fashioned; cordialement is what's actually used today.
How do you close a casual email?
À bientôt, or bises among close friends.
Do you need a comma after the greeting?
Yes - Bonjour Marie, is correct French punctuation.