First Phrases

Post office and parcels · Français

Post office and parcels in French: 12 survival phrases

Collect a parcel with your delivery notice, send a letter or parcel abroad, ask for tracking and a receipt, and find the nearest post office. Short phrases for the counter.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). Use "vous" at the counter in France and start with "Bonjour". Bring an ID document (passport or residence card) to collect a parcel or a registered letter, plus the notice ("avis de passage") if you have it.

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

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12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Bonjour. Je viens chercher un colis.
    Say it like: bon-ZHOOR. zhuh vyan sher-SHAY an koh-LEE
    Hello. I've come to pick up a parcel.
    Register: Polite; "bonjour" first is essential.
  2. 02Polite
    J'ai un avis de passage. Le voici.
    Say it like: zhay an ah-VEE duh pah-SAZH. luh vwah-SEE
    I have a delivery notice. Here it is.
    Register: "Avis de passage" is the slip left in your mailbox.
  3. 03Neutral
    Je n'étais pas là à la livraison. Où puis-je récupérer le colis ?
    Say it like: zhuh nay-TAY pah LAH ah lah lee-vreh-ZON. oo pwee-zhuh ray-kew-pay-RAY luh koh-LEE
    I wasn't there for the delivery. Where can I collect the parcel?
    Register: Neutral; works for any courier.
  4. 04Polite
    Voici mon passeport. Ça suffit ?
    Say it like: vwah-SEE mon pass-POR. sah sew-FEE
    Here is my passport. Is that enough?
    Register: Polite; ask if you have no French ID card.
  5. 05Neutral
    Faut-il prendre un ticket ?
    Say it like: foh-TEEL PRAHN-druh an tee-KAY
    Do I need to take a ticket?
    Register: Common at busy counters.
  6. 06Polite
    Je voudrais envoyer ce colis en …
    Say it like: zhuh voo-DRAY ahn-vwah-YAY suh koh-LEE ahn
    I'd like to send this parcel to …
    Register: Use "en" before a country, "à" before a city.
  7. 07Neutral
    Combien coûte l'envoi vers … ?
    Say it like: kom-BYAN koot lahn-VWAH vair
    How much does it cost to send it to …?
    Register: Neutral question.
  8. 08Neutral
    Un timbre pour une lettre, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: an TAN-bruh poor ewn LET-ruh, seel voo PLAY
    One stamp for a letter, please.
    Register: "Timbre" is the stamp.
  9. 09Neutral
    Avec suivi, s'il vous plaît.
    Say it like: ah-VEK SWEE-vee, seel voo PLAY
    With tracking, please.
    Register: "Suivi" means tracking.
  10. 10Neutral
    Combien de jours pour arriver ?
    Say it like: kom-BYAN duh zhoor poor ah-ree-VAY
    How many days to arrive?
    Register: Short and neutral.
  11. 11Polite
    Je peux avoir un reçu, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh ah-VWAR an ruh-SEW, seel voo PLAY
    Can I have a receipt, please?
    Register: Polite; keep it as proof of sending.
  12. 12Neutral
    Où est le bureau de poste le plus proche ?
    Say it like: oo ay luh bew-ROH duh POST luh plew PROSH
    Where is the nearest post office?
    Register: Neutral; ask anyone on the street.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the post office in French?

Start with: "Bonjour. Je viens chercher un colis." (Hello. I've come to pick up a parcel.)

Should I use informal or formal French at the post office?

Use "vous" at the counter in France and start with "Bonjour". Bring an ID document (passport or residence card) to collect a parcel or a registered letter, plus the notice ("avis de passage") if you have it.

How do I say I have a delivery notice in French?

Try: "J'ai un avis de passage. Le voici." (I have a delivery notice. Here it is.)

Same errand, another language

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French, another errand

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All 8 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/post/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint