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Feeling unwell: write a short work message in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Write a French message explaining today’s absence, handing over an urgent task and leaving tomorrow open. Includes a writing space, model and checklist.

In short

Start with Je ne me sens pas bien et je serai absent aujourd’hui (I’m not feeling well and I’ll be absent today). Name the affected meeting, point to the handover information and say when you will update your colleague. A woman writes absente.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out

An unwell person rests at home beside a phone and cup of tea.
An absence message can promise des nouvelles without a return date. Illustration: Atelier

Write to Samira using vous. Your note needs to help her run the morning meeting and find the current information. The facts below give you the task; choose your own wording before opening the model.

B1 · Workplace message · Writing practiceNot an official exam paper

Vous êtes Lina et vous écrivez à votre collègue Samira. Vous ne vous sentez pas bien et vous serez absente aujourd’hui. Vous ne participerez pas à la réunion de dix heures. Le tableau des commandes est à jour dans le dossier partagé. Seule la livraison de jeudi reste à confirmer ; Jules a accepté de répondre aux questions sur cette livraison. Votre disponibilité pour demain reste incertaine. Vous donnerez des nouvelles demain matin. Rédigez votre message en utilisant « vous ».

(80 mots minimum)

You are Lina. Write to Samira using the polite form of address: you are unwell and absent today, including the 10 am meeting. The orders table is current in the shared folder. Only Thursday’s delivery remains unconfirmed; Jules has agreed to answer questions about it. Tomorrow’s availability is uncertain. You will send an update tomorrow morning.

Your answer

Nothing you write is saved or sent. Copy it before you leave.

Read a model answer

Bonjour Samira,

Je ne me sens pas bien et je serai absente aujourd’hui. Je ne pourrai donc pas participer à la réunion de dix heures.

Le tableau des commandes est à jour dans le dossier partagé. La livraison de jeudi reste à confirmer. Jules a accepté de répondre aux questions sur cette livraison ; vous pouvez le contacter si besoin.

Je ne peux pas encore confirmer ma disponibilité pour demain. Je vous donnerai des nouvelles demain matin. Merci de votre compréhension et bonne journée.

Lina

Review your draft

Before you finish

A self-review aid, not an exam mark. Ticks are not saved.

How do you tell work you’re ill in French?

Small wording changes, different commitments
FrenchWhat the colleague understands
Je serai absente aujourd’hui.The sender is absent today.
Je ne pourrai pas participer à la réunion.The sender will miss the meeting.
Je vous donnerai des nouvelles demain matin.An update will come tomorrow morning.
Je serai de retour demain matin.The sender says they will return tomorrow morning.

The model chooses the update sentence. Je vous donnerai des nouvelles promises news. Je serai de retour commits to returning. For a colleague’s brief reply, Merci de m’avoir prévenue. Bon rétablissement ! means “Thanks for letting me know. Get well soon!” Here, prévenue is feminine because Samira is the person who was informed.

Question 1No account needed
What has Lina committed to doing tomorrow morning?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Sending an update.. She promises news tomorrow morning while leaving her availability unconfirmed.

Question 2No account needed
Who can answer questions about Thursday’s delivery?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Jules.. The task and model both name Jules as the agreed contact for that delivery.

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