Text conversation
Texting your manager that you're running late, in French
The train is stuck and you'll be late for a meeting. Text your manager in French: the reason, your new arrival time and a solution, with a professional tone.
- B1
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- Phone-style thread
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In short
Be brief and professional: apologise once (Je suis désolé(e)), give the reason (mon train est bloqué), the new time (j'arriverai vers 9 h 30) and a solution (je peux suivre la réunion en visio). Avoid long excuses.
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- Bonjour Claire, mon RER est bloqué à cause d'un incident sur la ligne. Je suis désolé.Hello Claire, my RER is stuck because of an incident on the line. I'm sorry.
- Bonjour, pas de souci. Tu penses arriver à quelle heure ?Hello, no problem. What time do you think you'll arrive?
Give your arrival time
- La réunion client commence à 9 h. Tu peux te connecter ?The client meeting starts at 9. Can you join online?
Offer a solution
- Parfait, je t'envoie le lien.Perfect, I'll send you the link.
Close
Phrases from the conversation
| French | English |
|---|---|
| à cause d'un incident | because of an incident |
| Je pense arriver vers… | I think I'll arrive around… |
| si le trafic reprend | if traffic resumes |
| suivre la réunion en visio | join the meeting by video |
| Je t'envoie le lien. | I'll send you the link. |
| la galère | a nightmare (slang) |
Even when a manager uses tu (common in French offices), keep your message professional: no slang like c'est la galère, no emojis, no bisous. En visio (short for visioconférence) is the everyday word for a video call. Train incidents are a classic and accepted reason for lateness in Paris.
- Je vais être en retard de 30 minutes.J'aurai environ 30 minutes de retard.
Avoir … de retard is the natural pattern.
- Je suis désolé, désolé, vraiment désolé…Je suis désolé.
One apology is enough at work.