What “business French” means
Business French is not a separate language. It is general French plus the vocabulary, phrases and habits you need at work: writing professional emails, taking part in meetings, talking to clients, presenting ideas and handling things like contracts, invoices or interviews. Tutors and language schools that teach it typically build lessons around those situations, and some tailor them to specific fields such as healthcare, hospitality or the arts.
If you are still deciding whether the investment makes sense, our overview of whether French is in demand looks at where the language is used professionally.
How to say business in French
There is no single translation, because “business” has several meanings:
| English meaning | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Company | une entreprise, une société | Elle dirige une petite entreprise. (She runs a small company.) |
| Commerce, trade | le commerce | Il travaille dans le commerce international. (He works in international trade.) |
| Business affairs, deals | les affaires | Un voyage d’affaires. (A business trip.) |
| Field of work | le secteur, le domaine | Dans quel secteur travaillez-vous ? (Which sector do you work in?) |
You will also see English words such as le business or le marketing used informally in French workplaces, but formal writing generally prefers the French terms.
Which level do you need? Is B2 fluent?
Language levels are usually described with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which runs from A1 (beginner) to C2 (very advanced). B2 is called upper intermediate. At B2, a learner can generally follow the main ideas of complex texts on familiar topics, take part in conversations with native speakers without strain for either side, and write clear, detailed text. Many people describe B2 as “working fluency”, but it is not the same as native-like fluency: expect to hunt for words sometimes, make errors, and find fast or technical talk difficult.
What level you actually need depends on the job:
- Occasional emails or client contact: a lower level plus strong templates and vocabulary can be enough.
- Meetings, negotiation and presentations in French: many learners aim for B2 or above.
- Writing contracts, legal or highly technical documents: typically needs advanced skills and often specialist review.
Ask the employer or client what they expect, since requirements differ widely.
Core business vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une réunion | a meeting |
| un rendez-vous | an appointment |
| l’ordre du jour (m.) | the agenda |
| un compte rendu | minutes, a report |
| un client / une cliente | a customer |
| un fournisseur | a supplier |
| un devis | a quote, an estimate |
| une facture | an invoice |
| un contrat | a contract |
| le chiffre d’affaires | turnover, revenue |
| un bénéfice | a profit |
| un budget | a budget |
| une échéance | a deadline, due date |
| un délai | a time limit, lead time |
| un entretien d’embauche | a job interview |
| une lettre de motivation | a cover letter |
| un collègue / une collègue | a colleague |
| un responsable | a manager, person in charge |
Learn nouns with their articles, for example un devis and une facture, so you remember gender from the start. The article on French indefinite articles explains how un, une and des work.
Phrases for meetings, calls and emails
In meetings:
- Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? (Could you repeat that, please?)
- Je voudrais ajouter un point. (I would like to add a point.)
- Si je comprends bien, vous proposez de… (If I understand correctly, you are proposing to…)
- Nous pouvons passer au point suivant ? (Can we move on to the next item?)
On the phone:
- Bonjour, je voudrais parler à Madame Martin. (Hello, I would like to speak to Mrs. Martin.)
- Je vous rappelle demain. (I will call you back tomorrow.)
In emails:
- Opening: Madame, Monsieur, (Dear Sir or Madam,) or Bonjour Madame Martin,
- Je vous remercie de votre réponse. (Thank you for your reply.)
- Veuillez trouver ci-joint le devis. (Please find the quote attached.)
- Je reste à votre disposition pour toute question. (I remain at your disposal for any questions.)
- Closing: Cordialement, or Bien cordialement, (Kind regards,). In very formal letters you may see Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées.
Je voudrais (“I would like”) is the standard polite way to ask for something. For more on tone and written style, see our guide on how to improve your French writing.
Tu or vous at work
French has two words for “you”. Vous is the formal form, also used for more than one person. Tu is informal. In many workplaces, vous is the safe default with clients, new contacts and superiors, while colleagues of similar standing often move to tu. Customs vary by company, industry and region, so follow the lead of the person you are speaking to. If someone proposes on peut se tutoyer ? (shall we use tu with each other?), they are inviting you to switch.
French sayings about work
Proverbs and set phrases make your French sound natural, and they come up in conversation:
- Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid. (Little by little, the bird builds its nest; steady effort pays off.)
- C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron. (It is by forging that one becomes a blacksmith; practice makes perfect.)
- Les affaires sont les affaires. (Business is business.)
- Métro, boulot, dodo. (Commute, work, sleep; a phrase describing a monotonous daily routine.)
- Avoir du pain sur la planche. (To have a lot of work to do, literally to have bread on the board.)
Exams and diplomas
If you need a recognized proof of level, several options exist:
- DELF and DALF: general French diplomas awarded at CEFR levels, administered through approved centers worldwide.
- TCF and TEF: tests that report your level, often used for study, immigration or employment purposes.
- DFP (Diplôme de français professionnel): a professional French diploma offered through the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with versions oriented to specific sectors.
Fees, formats and availability change, so check with the official provider or an authorized test center before you plan.
A practical study plan
Can you learn French in three months? You can learn a meaningful amount, but the answer depends on your starting point, how many hours you can study and how you define “learn”. Someone starting from zero should not expect to reach a professional working level in that time; someone who already knows some French may gain a lot from a focused course. For a general estimate of study time, see how many hours it takes to learn a language. Instead of a fixed deadline, aim at a specific task, such as being able to handle a short call or write a clear email.
A realistic plan:
- Fix the basics: present tense, common verbs, gender and agreement. The most frequent verbs, like être and avoir, are irregular, so spend time on irregular verbs in French.
- Learn work vocabulary in context: build lists for your own role and collect sentences, not isolated words.
- Practice real tasks: rewrite your own emails in French, rehearse introductions and meeting phrases aloud.
- Listen and read your industry: French business news, podcasts and professional articles in your field (our guide to input sources for language learners helps you choose).
- Get feedback: a tutor can correct tone and word choice, which matters in professional settings.
- Learn the small talk: introductions, where you come from and your job. Our guide to French words for nationalities is a good start, and our list of interesting French topics gives you subjects for informal conversation.
Choosing lessons or resources
When choosing a tutor, course or program, check whether they tailor content to your profession, whether you get speaking practice and written feedback, and whether they prepare you for an exam if you need one. Be cautious about promises of very fast results, and compare a few options before committing.