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French post-office dialogue: sending a registered letter

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Rehearse a 20-line A2 French post-office dialogue: request a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, check the address and keep the proof of posting.

In short

Ask for une lettre recommandée avec avis de réception if you want the registered service and acknowledgement of receipt. In this exchange, la preuve de dépôt records posting, le suivi tracks progress and l’avis de réception concerns receipt by the addressee.

A customer hands an envelope to a postal worker.
The customer asks to send une lettre recommandée. Illustration: Atelier
Your lines are hidden in practice mode. Say them aloud, then reveal to compare.
  1. Agente

    Bonjour ! Qu’est-ce que je peux faire pour vous ?

    English

    Hello! What can I do for you?

  2. You

    Bonjour. Je voudrais envoyer cette lettre en recommandé.

    Greet the agent and ask to send the letter by registered post.

    English

    Hello. I’d like to send this letter by registered post.

  3. Agente

    Vous souhaitez un avis de réception ?

    English

    Would you like acknowledgement of receipt?

  4. You

    Oui, je voudrais une confirmation de la réception.

    Ask for confirmation of receipt.

    English

    Yes, I’d like confirmation of receipt.

  5. Agente

    D’accord. La lettre part pour quelle ville ?

    English

    All right. Which city is the letter going to?

  6. You

    Pour Nantes. L’adresse est au recto de l’enveloppe.

    Give Nantes and say the address is on the front of the envelope.

    English

    To Nantes. The address is on the front of the envelope.

  7. Agente

    Vous avez indiqué le nom du destinataire et le code postal ?

    English

    Have you included the addressee’s name and the postcode?

  8. You

    Oui : Madame Alice Bernard, 12, rue des Ormes, 44000 Nantes.

    Read out the name and full address: Alice Bernard, 12 rue des Ormes, 44000 Nantes.

    English

    Yes: Madame Alice Bernard, 12 rue des Ormes, 44000 Nantes.

  9. Agente

    Très bien. Et votre adresse d’expéditeur est au dos ?

    English

    Very good. And is your sender’s address on the back?

  10. You

    Oui. Je dois aussi remplir ce formulaire ?

    Confirm and ask whether you also need to fill in the form.

    English

    Yes. Do I need to fill in this form too?

  11. Agente

    Oui, avec les deux adresses. Puis signez ici.

    English

    Yes, with both addresses. Then sign here.

  12. You

    Voilà. Est-ce que je pourrai suivre la lettre ?

    Hand back the completed form and ask whether you can track the letter.

    English

    There. Will I be able to track the letter?

  13. Agente

    Oui, avec le numéro de suivi. Je vais peser votre enveloppe.

    English

    Yes, with the tracking number. I’m going to weigh your envelope.

  14. You

    D’accord. Vous pouvez me dire le prix avant le paiement ?

    Ask the agent to tell you the price before you pay.

    English

    All right. Can you tell me the price before payment?

  15. Agente

    Bien sûr. Voici le tarif pour cet envoi.

    English

    Of course. Here is the price for this item.

  16. You

    Ça me convient. Je paie par carte.

    Accept the quoted price and say you will pay by card.

    English

    That suits me. I’ll pay by card.

  17. Agente

    Merci. Voici votre preuve de dépôt, avec le numéro de suivi.

    English

    Thank you. Here is your proof of posting, with the tracking number.

  18. You

    Et l’avis de réception, c’est un autre document ?

    Ask whether acknowledgement of receipt is a separate document.

    English

    And is the acknowledgement of receipt a different document?

  19. Agente

    Oui. Celui-ci confirme le dépôt. L’avis de réception confirme la réception par le destinataire.

    English

    Yes. This one confirms posting. The acknowledgement of receipt confirms receipt by the addressee.

  20. You

    Merci. Je garde cette preuve de dépôt. Au revoir !

    Thank the agent, confirm that you will keep the proof of posting and say goodbye.

    English

    Thank you. I’ll keep this proof of posting. Goodbye!

The documents at the counter

Three terms to keep separate
FrenchWhat it concernsQuestion you can ask
la preuve de dépôtThe act of handing the letter over for postingVous me donnez une preuve de dépôt ?
le numéro de suiviChecking the item’s progressOù est le numéro de suivi ?
l’avis de réceptionConfirmation of receipt by the addresseeJe peux avoir un avis de réception ?

Le destinataire receives the letter; l’expéditeur sends it. Au recto means on the front, and au dos means on the back. In une lettre recommandée, recommandée agrees with the feminine noun lettre. After en, the service is en recommandé.

Question 1No account needed
Which document does the customer receive at the counter to confirm posting?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The proof of posting.. The agent hands over la preuve de dépôt after payment and identifies it as confirmation of posting.

Question 2No account needed
Who is le destinataire?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The person receiving the letter.. The addressee receives the letter; the sender is l’expéditeur.

Question 3No account needed
Which request asks for registered post?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je voudrais envoyer cette lettre en recommandé.. Envoyer une lettre en recommandé is the request for sending a letter by registered post.

Practise the sender’s part

  • Hide your lines. Ask for registered post with acknowledgement of receipt, give a different address and ask about tracking.
  • Before the final goodbye, ask which document confirms posting. Keep l’expéditeur and le destinataire distinct as you fill in the two addresses.

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