Communicating in a foreign language is an exciting way to show off your skills. Whether you’re talking with new friends, asking locals for directions, or beginning a job search, it’s important to understand the proper salutations and farewells. However, this can be quite daunting, especially if you’re in unfamiliar territory like signing off an email in French. Don’t worry though, French email closings aren’t as scary as they seem. With a little practice, you’ll be giving your best regards in French like a native.
If you’re wondering how to end an email in French, we’ve got you covered. In an effort to ease your panic, we’ve compiled a list of formal and informal closings for your email in French. You’ll need these useful phrases if you are applying for a job abroad, communicating with customer service in a different country or writing a thank you letter to your host family. How you sign off an email in French depends on how well you know the person to whom you're writing, the purpose of the letter, and the degree of formality.
French email sign offs are all about personalization and knowing the proper way to do this signals your familiarity with the language and the culture.
- As you know from our article on how to say thank you in different languages, it’s important to practice the appropriate etiquette when interacting with people from other countries. This includes properly signing off an email in French, which shows respect to the recipient and leaves them with a positive impression of you. Let’s take a look at how to finish an email in French now!
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Dans l'attente de votre réponse (formal)
Meaning “I look forward to hearing from you.” Include this French email sign off if you want to indicate that you're waiting for an answer. This can also be shortened to “Dans l'attente” for semi-formal correspondence.
Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur/Madame, mes salutations distinguées (formal)
Literally translates to “please accept, Madam / Sir, my best regards” in English, this is used for general business or formal emails. This phrase is similar to "yours sincerely" in English.
Veuillez agréer l'expression de mes sentiments respectueux (formal)
If you’re trying to figure out how to close an email in French to a recipient who’s name is unknown, you can use this phrase. It is the equivalent of “yours faithfully” in English.
Cordialement (formal/semi-formal)
The English translation would be equivalent to “kind regards.” You can also add “bien” or “très” in front of it if you need a stronger closing. This is a common way to give your regards in French.
“Cordialement” can also be used alone for semi-formal business emails, which is becoming increasingly more common. If you’re unsure on formality when giving kind regards in French, it’s best to use one of the longer, more formal closings above to play it safe.
Respectueusem*nt (formal/semi-formal)
This is a simple email sign off in French that means “respectfully.“ This also has the same purpose as “cordialement.”
Amitiés (informal)
Meaning “best wishes” or “all the best” in English. This can be used regardless of the closeness of the relationship, making it a common email sign off French people enjoy.
Amicalement (informal)
Meaning “kindly” or “best wishes” in English. This closing is appropriate for emails to acquaintances and friends who are older. Adding “bien” in front of it (bien amicalement) translates it to mean “in friendship” in English. This is an informal way to give your best regards in French.
Chaleureusem*nt (informal)
“Warmly” or “with warm regards” is a common way to sign off an email between friends.
À bientôt / à plus tard (informal)
Both have the same meaning as “see you soon” in English. “À plus tard” is commonly shortened to “A+” and is mostly used between friends when ending an email in French.
Gros bisous (informal)
This is a way of saying “kisses” in English. This is what you would say to relatives and close friends to finish your e-mail.
Hopefully, these email sign offs in French can help you boost your confidence levels and expand your language practice. In fact, you’re all set to finally finish that email that you have been putting off ;). If you don’t know which closing is most appropriate, it's usually best to err on the side of caution and use the more formal option. No one will ever be offended by excessive formality when offering kind regards in French!
Understanding written etiquette, especially when signing off an email in French, is important to avoid any unintentional offense. With the Tandem app, you gain fluency in French by speaking with native speakers, while also increasing your familiarity with French etiquette and culture. If you need some help with the rest of your email in French, ask your Tandem partner for some tips! While you now know how to end an email in French, your partner can help you create a cohesive message from start to finish.
Oh, One More Thing...
The Tandem app is the best way to gain fluency in any language. With millions of members, Tandem is the largest global language learning community out there! Tandem lets you connect with native French speakers all over the world, so you can practice speaking French via text, voice notes, and video calling. Immerse yourself in the French language and culture, and speak your way to fluency, for free!
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