Business Phone Calls in French

Structure of a Business Call

Greeting and Introduction

• Allô? [alɔ] — Hello?
• Bonjour, [company name], [your name] speaking. — Good afternoon, [company name], [your name] at the phone.
• Je vous appelle de la part de [name / company]. — I am calling on behalf of [name / company].
• Je me permets de vous contacter au sujet de... — I am taking the liberty of contacting you regarding...

Requesting Connection

• Pourriez-vous me passer M. Dupont, s'il vous plaît? — Could you connect me to Mr. Dupont, please?
• Je souhaiterais parler à Madame Martin. — I would like to speak with Mrs. Martin.
• Est-ce que je pourrais avoir le service commercial? — May I speak with the sales department?

When the Recipient Is Unavailable

• Il est absent pour le moment. — He/She is not available at the moment.
• Elle est en réunion. — She is in a meeting.
• Il est en ligne. — He is on another line.
• Souhaitez-vous laisser un message? — Would you like to leave a message?
• Puis-je prendre un message? — May I take a message?
• Je lui ferai passer votre message. — I will pass your message to him/her.

Leaving a Message

• Pourriez-vous lui demander de me rappeler? — Could you ask him/her to call me back?
• Mon numéro est le... — My number is...
• Je rappellerai plus tard. — I will call back later.

Conducting the Conversation

• Je vous appelle au sujet de notre réunion de la semaine prochaine. — I am calling regarding our meeting next week.
• Avez-vous reçu notre offre? — Did you receive our offer?
• J'aimerais faire le point sur l'avancement du projet. — I would like to review the progress of the project.

Ending the Call

• Je vous remercie de votre appel. — Thank you for your call.
• Très bien, je note. — Very well, I am taking note.
• Je vous tiens informé(e). — I will keep you informed.
• À bientôt / Bonne journée! — See you soon / Have a nice day!

Communication Problems

• Je vous entends mal. — I cannot hear you well.
• Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît? — Could you repeat, please?
• Pourriez-vous parler plus lentement? — Could you speak more slowly?
• La ligne est mauvaise. — The line is bad.
• Je vais vous rappeler. — I will call you back.

Complete Dialogue: Business Phone Call

— Bonjour, Société Al Futtaim Capital, Sarah Khouri speaking. — Hello, Mrs. Khouri. My name is Pierre Legrand, I am calling on behalf of Crédit Agricole CIB in Paris. — Hello, Mr. Legrand. How may I help you? — I would like to speak with Mr. Hassan, your financial director. Is he available? — I'm sorry, he is in a meeting at the moment. Would you like to leave a message? — Yes, could you ask him to call me back? It concerns the financing of the real estate project we discussed last week. — Of course. What is your number? — It's +33 1 43 23 45 67. — I will pass your message as soon as he is available. — Thank you. Have a good day! — Have a good day, Mr. Legrand.