Kilo Lingo

Ch 32 · Lesson 21

A formal email

How a French formal email or letter opens, asks and signs off.

Why these go together

French formal writing is more ceremonial than English. You open with , , when you do not know the name, there is no "Dear" for a stranger, and the closing formula is long by English standards. Cordialement is the everyday sign-off for an email; the full agréer formula is for letters and very formal emails.

  • , ,

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    Literally: madam, sir

  • .

    I am writing to you about my order.

    Literally: I allow myself to write to you on the subject of my order

  • .

    I would be grateful if you could reply.

    Literally: I would be grateful to you to kindly answer me

  • .

    Thank you in advance.

    Literally: I thank you in advance

  • .

    I look forward to hearing from you.

    Literally: in the wait for your answer

  • Cordialement,

    Kind regards,

    Literally: cordially

Matching

0/6

Match each phrase to what it means.

Fill in the blank

0/6

Put the missing word back.

  1. , Monsieur, (Dear Sir or Madam,)

  2. Je me de vous écrire au sujet de ma commande. (I am writing to you about my order.)

  3. Je vous serais reconnaissant de bien me répondre. (I would be grateful if you could reply.)

  4. Je vous remercie par . (Thank you in advance.)

  5. Dans l' de votre réponse. (I look forward to hearing from you.)

  6. , (Kind regards,)

Lesson 21 of 29 in this chapter

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