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B2 noun 9 Min. Lesezeit

le courriel

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At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'le courriel' means 'email'. You should be able to recognize it in simple sentences like 'J'ai un courriel' (I have an email) or 'Voici mon courriel' (Here is my email). You might use it when giving someone your contact information. It is a masculine noun, so you use 'le' or 'un'. At this stage, don't worry too much about the difference between 'mail' and 'courriel'; just know that 'courriel' is the 'correct' French word. You will mostly see it on forms where you have to write your email address. It is important to remember that in French, the '@' symbol is called 'arobase'. So, when you give your courriel address, you would say 'nom arobase domaine point com'. Practice saying your email address out loud using the word 'courriel' to introduce it. This will help you become comfortable with the basic sounds of the word. The pronunciation is roughly 'koo-ryel'. Even at this beginner level, using the proper French term shows you are making a great effort to learn the language correctly. You might also learn the verb 'envoyer' (to send) to say 'J'envoie un courriel'. This is a very useful basic phrase for daily communication in the digital age.

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'le courriel' in more complete sentences. You should be able to talk about sending and receiving emails. For example, 'Je t'envoie un courriel demain' (I'll send you an email tomorrow) or 'As-tu reçu mon courriel ?' (Did you receive my email?). You will also learn related words like 'la boîte de réception' (inbox) and 'le sujet' or 'l'objet' (the subject line). You can describe simple actions like 'lire un courriel' (to read an email) or 'répondre à un courriel' (to reply to an email). Notice that 'répondre' uses the preposition 'à'. You might also learn how to say 'pièce jointe' (attachment). For example, 'Il y a une photo en pièce jointe dans le courriel'. At this level, you are beginning to understand that 'courriel' is more formal than 'mail'. You might notice that your French teacher always uses 'courriel', while your French friends might say 'mail'. This is a good time to start practicing the spelling with two 'r's. You can also use 'par courriel' to describe how you want to be contacted. 'Contactez-moi par courriel, s'il vous plaît'. This is a polite and clear way to communicate your preference.

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By the B1 level, you should be able to use 'le courriel' comfortably in professional and semi-formal contexts. You can write short, clear emails to make inquiries, book a hotel, or ask for information. You should know the standard openings and closings for a courriel, such as 'Bonjour' or 'Madame, Monsieur' for the opening, and 'Cordialement' for the closing. You can handle more complex verbs like 'transférer' (to forward) or 'supprimer' (to delete). You should also be able to talk about technical issues, like 'Je n'arrive pas à ouvrir le courriel' (I can't open the email) or 'Le courriel est arrivé dans mes spams'. In fact, at B1, you might learn the term 'courriel indésirable' for spam. You can use the word 'courriel' to explain a situation: 'J'ai expliqué tout cela dans mon courriel précédent'. You are also more aware of the cultural context: you know that 'courriel' is the official term in France and the standard term in Quebec. You might start using 'mél.' correctly on your CV. This level requires you to be able to follow a thread of emails and summarize the main points, using 'courriel' as the primary noun to refer to the messages.

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At the B2 level, which is the level of this word, you must use 'le courriel' with precision and nuance. You understand the linguistic politics behind the word—how it was created to replace the English 'e-mail'. You use it naturally in formal writing and professional debates. You can discuss the advantages and disadvantages of 'le courriel' as a communication tool. For instance, you might talk about 'la surcharge de courriels' (email overload) or 'le droit à la déconnexion' (the right to disconnect). You are expected to use advanced collocations like 'accuser réception d'un courriel' (to acknowledge receipt of an email) or 'un courriel de relance' (a follow-up email). Your writing should be sophisticated, using 'courriel' to maintain a consistent formal register. You can distinguish between 'courriel' (the message) and 'messagerie' (the service). You should also be able to understand and use 'pourriel' (spam) in a Quebec context or 'hameçonnage' (phishing) in a security context. At B2, you are not just using the word; you are using it as part of a broad, professional vocabulary that respects the norms of the French-speaking world. You can also use it in complex grammatical structures, like 'Bien que j'aie envoyé le courriel, je n'ai pas eu de réponse'.

At the C1 level, 'le courriel' is used in highly specialized and academic discussions. You can analyze the impact of 'le courriel' on modern linguistics or corporate culture. You might discuss the legal validity of a 'courriel' as evidence in a court case or its role in digital archiving. You understand the subtle social cues associated with using 'courriel' versus 'mail' in France—how 'courriel' can sometimes feel slightly bureaucratic or overly formal depending on the speaker's intent. You can write long, complex professional correspondences where 'le courriel' is used to refer back to previous points of agreement. You are familiar with administrative jargon such as 'courriel circulaire' (mass email) or 'courriel d'information'. You might also explore the etymology and the role of the Académie française in promoting the term. At this level, your use of the word is flawless, and you can even play with the register, perhaps using 'courriel' ironically or to emphasize a point about language purity. You are also capable of understanding fast-paced technical discussions where 'courriel' might be used alongside terms like 'serveur SMTP', 'chiffrement', and 'protocole'.

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At the C2 level, you have a masterly command of 'le courriel' and its place in the French language. You can engage in philosophical or sociolinguistic debates about the evolution of communication, using 'le courriel' as a case study for how languages adapt to technology. You can write literary or highly technical texts where 'le courriel' is used with absolute precision. You understand the deepest nuances of the word, including its historical struggle for dominance over 'e-mail' and what that says about French cultural identity. You can navigate the most formal diplomatic or legal environments where the choice of 'courriel' over any other term is mandatory and significant. You might even critique the term itself or compare it with other 'mots-valises' in the French language. Your understanding extends to the digital humanities, where the 'courriel' is studied as a genre of writing with its own specific codes and tropes. You are essentially a native-level speaker who uses 'le courriel' as a tool for sophisticated expression, capable of moving between different regional standards (Quebec vs. France) with ease.

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Le courriel is the official French word for email, a masculine noun formed from 'courrier électronique'.
It is used in all formal, professional, and administrative contexts in France and Quebec.
Common verbs include envoyer (send), recevoir (receive), and répondre (reply).
While 'mail' is common in casual French speech, 'courriel' is the correct term for exams and formal writing.

The word le courriel is the official French term for an email. It is a portmanteau, or a 'mot-valise', created by merging the words courrier (mail) and électronique (electronic). While the term 'e-mail' or simply 'mail' is frequently heard in casual conversation in France, courriel is the legally and administratively preferred term. Its adoption represents a significant effort by Francophone linguistic institutions to provide indigenous alternatives to pervasive English technical terminology.

Grammatical Gender: Masculine (le courriel, un courriel).
Plural Form: Les courriels (regular pluralization with an 's').

In professional settings, using courriel demonstrates a high level of linguistic precision and respect for formal French standards. It is the word you will see on government websites, in official corporate communications, and in academic contexts.

Veuillez trouver le document ci-joint dans le courriel que je vous ai envoyé ce matin.

Beyond its literal meaning, the word carries a connotation of digital modernity combined with linguistic preservation. In Quebec, its usage is near-universal and deeply ingrained in the culture, whereas in France, it often serves as a marker of formal register. The word also encompasses the system itself, not just the individual message. You might say 'la gestion du courriel' to refer to email management as a whole.

Le courriel est devenu un outil indispensable pour la communication professionnelle moderne.

Historically, the term was popularized by the Office québécois de la langue française in the 1990s before being adopted by the French Ministry of Culture in 2003. This history reflects the broader struggle and success of French-speaking nations in maintaining their language in the digital age.

Register: Formal to Neutral. It is rarely used in very slang-heavy speech, where 'mail' dominates.

Understanding this word is essential for anyone aiming for B2 level or higher, as it signifies an understanding of the nuances between spontaneous speech and standardized written French.

Je n'ai pas encore reçu votre courriel de confirmation.

Finally, it is worth noting that while 'courriel' refers to the message, the address itself is often introduced by the symbol 'Mél.' (short for messagerie électronique) in France, though this is purely a graphic convention for stationery and business cards.

Est-ce que tu peux me transférer ce courriel ?

La boîte de réception de mon courriel est pleine.

Technical Terminology: Associated with 'pièce jointe' (attachment), 'objet' (subject), and 'destinataire' (recipient).

Using le courriel correctly involves understanding its interaction with verbs and prepositions. The most common verb paired with it is envoyer (to send). You send a courriel à quelqu'un (to someone).

J'ai envoyé un courriel au service client pour demander un remboursement.

Conversely, you recevez (receive) or consultez (check) your courriels.

Verb Collocations: Envoyer, recevoir, lire, supprimer, archiver, transférer, répondre à.

When discussing the medium of communication, use the preposition par. For example, 'contactez-moi par courriel' (contact me by email).

Toute communication officielle doit être transmise par courriel.

If you are referring to information contained within the message, use dans.

Comme indiqué dans mon courriel précédent, la réunion est annulée.

In professional contexts, you might use more complex structures like 'faire suivre un courriel' (to forward an email) or 'mettre en copie dans un courriel' (to CC someone in an email).

Pourriez-vous me mettre en copie du courriel de réponse ?

Prepositional Usage: Par courriel (by), dans un courriel (in), via courriel (via).

The word is also used in compound terms such as 'adresse de courriel' or 'boîte de courriel'.

Veuillez saisir votre adresse de courriel pour réinitialiser votre mot de passe.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using courriel in passive constructions as well, which are common in administrative writing.

Un courriel de rappel vous sera envoyé trois jours avant l'événement.

Common Adjectives: Indésirable (spam), électronique, professionnel, personnel, urgent, automatisé.

Using adjectives like 'indésirable' with 'courriel' is the standard way to talk about spam in formal French.

N'oubliez pas de vérifier votre dossier de courriels indésirables.

This word is incredibly versatile and serves as the backbone of modern French digital interaction sentences.

In daily life, the frequency of le courriel varies by geography and context. If you are in Montreal or Quebec City, you will hear it everywhere: in the grocery store, at the bank, and between friends. Quebec's linguistic policies have successfully made 'courriel' the natural, default term for everyone.

Au Québec, dire 'mail' au lieu de courriel peut parfois sembler étrange ou trop anglicisé.

In France, the situation is more nuanced. On the radio (like France Inter) or television news (like TF1 or France 2), journalists are strictly required to use courriel to uphold the purity of the language. Similarly, in any interaction with the French state—be it for taxes, healthcare (Ameli), or education—the word used is always courriel.

Context: Administration: 100% usage of 'courriel'.
Context: Media/Broadcast: High usage of 'courriel' due to institutional guidelines.

However, if you are sitting in a café in Paris with young professionals, you are much more likely to hear 'Je t'envoie un mail'. This creates a diglossia where the formal, written, and institutional word is courriel, but the spoken, colloquial word is mail. In the workplace, 'courriel' is the standard for internal memos and client-facing communication.

La direction a envoyé un courriel général concernant la nouvelle politique de télétravail.

You will also find it in software interfaces. While some platforms might still use 'e-mail', localized French versions of Outlook or Gmail often use 'courrier' or 'courriel' in their settings and help menus.

Veuillez confirmer votre identité via le lien envoyé dans votre courriel.

Geographic Variance: Quebec: Standard. France: Formal/Official. Belgium/Switzerland: Mix of both.

In academic settings, professors will almost exclusively use courriel when communicating with students.

Les consignes de l'examen vous seront transmises par courriel.

J'ai reçu un courriel d'hameçonnage (phishing) très convaincant hier.

Il est impératif de répondre à ce courriel avant midi.

Professional Etiquette: Using 'courriel' in a signature block is a sign of high professional standards.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make is assuming le courriel is interchangeable with 'mail' in all situations. While 'mail' is understood, it is technically an anglicism in French. Another common error is the gender; many learners mistakenly use the feminine 'la' because it ends in 'el', but it is strictly masculine.

Gender Error: Incorrect: *La courriel. Correct: Le courriel.
Spelling Error: Incorrect: *couriel (one 'r'). Correct: courriel (double 'r').

Spelling is another pitfall. The word must have two 'r's, just like courrier. Forgetting the second 'r' is a common typo even for native speakers.

Attention à l'orthographe : courriel prend deux 'r', comme le mot 'courrier'.

Another nuance involves the abbreviation 'Mél.'. Many learners use 'Mél.' as a noun, saying 'J'ai reçu un mél'. This is incorrect. 'Mél.' is only used as a label before an email address, similar to how 'Tél.' is used before a phone number. Confusion also arises with the word 'mail' in French. In some contexts, 'un mail' (pronounced like 'mile' in English or 'mèl' in French) refers to a shaded walkway or mall (e.g., Le Mail in certain French cities). While this is rare, using the official courriel avoids any ambiguity.

Il ne faut pas confondre le courriel (message) avec le 'mail' (allée piétonne).

Preposition Pitfall: Avoid 'sur le courriel' when you mean 'by email'. Use 'par courriel'.

Many students also struggle with the plural. Since it is a relatively new word, some wonder if it follows special rules, but it is a standard 's' plural: les courriels.

J'ai trop de courriels non lus dans ma boîte de réception.

L'erreur de frappe dans l'adresse de courriel a empêché l'envoi du message.

N'écrivez pas 'e-courriel', c'est une redondance inutile.

Anglicism Awareness: Using 'e-mail' is common but using 'courriel' shows a higher command of standard French.

Finally, avoid using 'courriel' to refer to a physical letter. For that, you must use 'courrier' or 'lettre'.

To truly master le courriel, you must understand how it fits into the broader ecosystem of French communication terms. The closest relative is le courrier, which traditionally refers to physical mail but can sometimes be used as a collective noun for all incoming messages, including digital ones.

Courriel vs. Courrier: 'Courriel' is specifically electronic. 'Courrier' is general or physical.
Courriel vs. Mél: 'Courriel' is the noun. 'Mél.' is the label for an address.

Another alternative is le message électronique, which is the full, unabbreviated version of the term. It is very formal and rarely used in speech, but you might see it in legal disclaimers at the bottom of emails.

Ce message électronique contient des informations confidentielles.

Then there is the ubiquitous anglicism e-mail or mail. While frowned upon by purists, it is the dominant term in informal French speech. For short, instant messages (like SMS or WhatsApp), French speakers use un message, un SMS, or the slang un texto (especially in Quebec).

Je t'ai envoyé un texto pour te dire que j'étais arrivé.

Digital Synonyms: Pli électronique (rare/poetic), missive (old-fashioned), correspondance (formal).

In technical contexts, you might hear le pourriel, which is the portmanteau for 'poubelle' (trash) and 'courriel', meaning spam. This is the official term in Quebec and is increasingly recognized in France.

Mon filtre à pourriels est très efficace.

La correspondance par courriel est archivée pour une durée de cinq ans.

Veuillez agréer l'expression de mes salutations distinguées (formal closing for a courriel).

Register Comparison: Courriel (Official), Mail (Common), Texto (Casual), Message électronique (Legal).

Mastering these synonyms allows you to adapt your language to any situation, from a formal job application to a quick chat with a neighbor.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word was officially introduced by the Office québécois de la langue française before being adopted in France to fight the use of the English word 'email'.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ku.ʁjɛl/

US /ku.ʁjɛl/

The stress is even, but slightly more emphasis can be placed on the final syllable 'yel'.

Reimt sich auf

ciel miel sel tel logiciel essentiel matériel artificiel

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing it as 'cou-ril' (missing the 'e').
Using an English 'r' sound.
Treating it as feminine.
Confusing it with the pronunciation of 'mail' (mèl).
Adding an extra syllable.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it looks like 'mail' and 'courrier'.

Schreiben 2/5

Need to remember the double 'r' and masculine gender.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but requires the French 'r'.

Hören 1/5

Easy to hear in formal contexts like news or office meetings.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

courrier électronique ordinateur message internet

Als Nächstes lernen

pièce jointe hameçonnage pourriel messagerie arobase

Fortgeschritten

cryptographie serveur protocole dématérialisation asynchrone

Wichtige Grammatik

Contraction of 'à' and 'le'

Je réponds AU courriel (à + le).

Masculine agreement

Un courriel IMPORTANT (not importante).

Pluralization of nouns in 'el'

Les courriels (just add 's').

Preposition 'par' for means

Envoyer PAR courriel.

Possessive adjectives

MON courriel, TON courriel, SON courriel.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Voici mon courriel.

Here is my email.

Uses the masculine possessive adjective 'mon'.

J'ai un courriel.

I have an email.

Uses the indefinite article 'un'.

C'est le courriel de Marie.

It is Marie's email.

Uses 'de' to show possession.

Quel est votre courriel ?

What is your email?

Uses the interrogative 'quel' (masculine).

Le courriel est ici.

The email is here.

Uses the definite article 'le'.

Un courriel pour toi.

An email for you.

Uses the preposition 'pour'.

Je lis le courriel.

I am reading the email.

Present tense of 'lire'.

Écris ton courriel.

Write your email.

Imperative form of 'écrire'.

Je t'envoie un courriel ce soir.

I am sending you an email tonight.

Direct object pronoun 't''.

As-tu reçu mon courriel ?

Did you receive my email?

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

Il y a une photo dans le courriel.

There is a photo in the email.

Preposition 'dans'.

Réponds à ce courriel, s'il te plaît.

Reply to this email, please.

Verb 'répondre' + 'à'.

Je n'ai pas de courriel aujourd'hui.

I don't have any emails today.

Negation 'ne...pas de'.

Ouvre le courriel de ton prof.

Open your teacher's email.

Imperative of 'ouvrir'.

C'est un courriel très important.

It is a very important email.

Adjective 'important' follows the noun.

On communique par courriel.

We communicate by email.

Preposition 'par' for means of communication.

N'oubliez pas de joindre le fichier au courriel.

Don't forget to attach the file to the email.

Verb 'joindre' + 'au' (à + le).

J'ai transféré votre courriel à mon collègue.

I forwarded your email to my colleague.

Passé composé of 'transférer'.

Vérifiez vos courriels indésirables.

Check your junk emails.

Plural 'courriels' and adjective 'indésirables'.

Je vous contacte suite à votre courriel.

I am contacting you following your email.

Formal phrase 'suite à'.

Le courriel de confirmation a été envoyé.

The confirmation email has been sent.

Passive voice 'a été envoyé'.

Il a supprimé le courriel par erreur.

He deleted the email by mistake.

Phrase 'par erreur'.

Puis-je avoir votre adresse de courriel ?

May I have your email address?

Compound noun 'adresse de courriel'.

Ce courriel contient toutes les informations.

This email contains all the information.

Demonstrative adjective 'ce'.

L'utilisation du courriel est obligatoire pour cette démarche.

The use of email is mandatory for this process.

Noun 'utilisation' + 'du' (de + le).

Il est impératif d'accuser réception de ce courriel.

It is imperative to acknowledge receipt of this email.

Professional expression 'accuser réception'.

Le courriel électronique a révolutionné la communication.

Electronic mail has revolutionized communication.

Full formal term 'courriel électronique'.

Je vous mets en copie du courriel envoyé au directeur.

I am putting you in CC of the email sent to the director.

Phrase 'mettre en copie'.

Veuillez ne pas répondre à ce courriel automatisé.

Please do not reply to this automated email.

Negative imperative 'ne pas répondre'.

La surcharge de courriels nuit à la productivité.

Email overload harms productivity.

Verb 'nuire à'.

Le ton de son courriel était assez sec.

The tone of his email was quite blunt.

Adjective 'sec' describing the tone.

Archivons ces courriels pour une consultation future.

Let's archive these emails for future consultation.

Imperative 'archivons' (let's archive).

La validité juridique d'un courriel est désormais reconnue.

The legal validity of an email is now recognized.

Complex subject 'la validité juridique'.

Le courriel s'est substitué à la lettre manuscrite.

Email has replaced the handwritten letter.

Pronominal verb 'se substituer à'.

L'analyse sémantique des courriels révèle des tendances.

Semantic analysis of emails reveals trends.

Plural partitive 'des tendances'.

Il a rédigé un courriel d'une courtoisie exemplaire.

He wrote an email of exemplary courtesy.

Noun phrase 'd'une courtoisie exemplaire'.

Le piratage de courriels pose un risque de sécurité majeur.

Email hacking poses a major security risk.

Noun 'piratage'.

Cette directive a été diffusée par courriel circulaire.

This directive was disseminated via mass email.

Technical term 'courriel circulaire'.

Le courriel permet une traçabilité accrue des échanges.

Email allows for increased traceability of exchanges.

Adjective 'accrue' agreeing with 'traçabilité'.

Elle a décliné l'invitation par un courriel laconique.

She declined the invitation with a terse email.

Adjective 'laconique'.

L'avènement du courriel a bouleversé l'épistolarité traditionnelle.

The advent of email has disrupted traditional epistolary forms.

Sophisticated noun 'épistolarité'.

Le courriel incarne la célérité de la modernité numérique.

Email embodies the speed of digital modernity.

Literary word 'célérité'.

On observe une hybridation des registres dans le courriel.

We observe a hybridization of registers in email.

Abstract concept 'hybridation'.

Le courriel, bien que virtuel, laisse une empreinte indélébile.

Email, though virtual, leaves an indelible footprint.

Concessive clause 'bien que'.

La pérennité des courriels archivés est un enjeu crucial.

The longevity of archived emails is a crucial issue.

Noun 'pérennité'.

L'institutionnalisation du terme 'courriel' fut un succès.

The institutionalization of the term 'courriel' was a success.

Passé simple 'fut'.

Le courriel s'affranchit des contraintes géographiques.

Email frees itself from geographical constraints.

Verb 's'affranchir de'.

La dématérialisation via le courriel réduit l'usage du papier.

Dematerialization via email reduces paper usage.

Technical term 'dématérialisation'.

Häufige Kollokationen

envoyer un courriel

recevoir un courriel

adresse de courriel

boîte de courriel

courriel indésirable

par courriel

répondre au courriel

transférer un courriel

pièce jointe au courriel

objet du courriel

Häufige Phrasen

Je vous envoie un courriel.

— I am sending you an email. Used to confirm a future or present action.

Je vous envoie un courriel avec le contrat.

Restons en contact par courriel.

— Let's stay in touch via email. A common way to end a conversation.

C'était un plaisir, restons en contact par courriel.

Vérifiez vos courriels.

— Check your emails. A command or suggestion.

Vérifiez vos courriels pour le code d'accès.

Comme dit dans mon courriel...

— As stated in my email... Used to reference previous communication.

Comme dit dans mon courriel, le prix a changé.

Un courriel de rappel.

— A reminder email. Common in business.

C'est juste un petit courriel de rappel.

Accuser réception d'un courriel.

— To acknowledge receipt of an email. Very formal.

Veuillez accuser réception de ce courriel.

Mettre en copie du courriel.

— To CC someone in the email. Professional jargon.

Je vous mets en copie du courriel.

Saisir son courriel.

— To type in one's email address. Used on websites.

Veuillez saisir votre courriel pour continuer.

Le courriel est parti.

— The email has been sent. Informal confirmation.

C'est bon, le courriel est parti.

Un courriel frauduleux.

— A fraudulent/scam email. Used for security warnings.

Attention, c'est un courriel frauduleux.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

le courriel vs courrier

Courrier is general mail (often physical). Courriel is specifically electronic.

le courriel vs mail

Mail is an anglicism common in France but less formal than courriel.

le courriel vs mél.

Mél. is a label for an address, not a noun you can use like 'un mél'.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Noyé sous les courriels"

— To be overwhelmed by the number of emails received.

Depuis mon retour de vacances, je suis noyé sous les courriels.

informal

"Faire un courriel"

— To write/send an email (common but slightly less formal than 'rédiger').

Je vais lui faire un courriel tout de suite.

neutral

"Répondre du tac au tac par courriel"

— To reply instantly and sharply to an email.

Elle lui a répondu du tac au tac par courriel.

neutral

"Passer par le courriel"

— To choose email as the method of communication.

Pour les documents, mieux vaut passer par le courriel.

neutral

"Un courriel qui tombe à pic"

— An email that arrives at exactly the right moment.

Ton courriel tombe à pic, j'allais t'appeler.

neutral

"Bombarder de courriels"

— To send a large number of emails to someone in a short time.

Le client nous bombarde de courriels ce matin.

informal

"Laisser un courriel sans réponse"

— To ignore an email or forget to reply.

Il ne faut jamais laisser un courriel client sans réponse.

professional

"Un courriel reste lettre morte"

— An email that gets no reaction or result.

Mon courriel de plainte est resté lettre morte.

literary

"Fil de courriels"

— An email thread or conversation history.

Regardez plus bas dans le fil de courriels.

professional

"Courriel de courtoisie"

— A polite follow-up or 'thank you' email.

C'est toujours bien d'envoyer un courriel de courtoisie.

professional

Leicht verwechselbar

le courriel vs pourriel

Sounds similar to courriel.

Pourriel means spam (poubelle + courriel).

J'ai reçu un pourriel.

le courriel vs logiciel

Ends in 'iel'.

Logiciel means software.

C'est un logiciel de courriel.

le courriel vs matériel

Ends in 'iel'.

Matériel means hardware or material.

Le matériel informatique est cher.

le courriel vs essentiel

Ends in 'iel'.

Essentiel is an adjective meaning essential.

C'est un courriel essentiel.

le courriel vs ciel

Rhymes with courriel.

Ciel means sky.

Le ciel est bleu.

Satzmuster

C'est mon [courriel].

C'est mon courriel.

Je t'envoie un [courriel].

Je t'envoie un courriel.

N'oubliez pas de [verbe] le [courriel].

N'oubliez pas de lire le courriel.

Veuillez [verbe] réception de ce [courriel].

Veuillez accuser réception de ce courriel.

La [nom] du [courriel] est [adjectif].

La teneur du courriel est confidentielle.

Le [courriel] a [verbe] la [nom].

Le courriel a transformé la communication.

Il y a un [nom] dans le [courriel].

Il y a un lien dans le courriel.

As-tu reçu le [courriel] ?

As-tu reçu le courriel ?

Wortfamilie

Substantive

courrier

messagerie

pourriel

logiciel

matériel

Verben

courrieller (rare, mostly Quebec)

envoyer

recevoir

répondre

Adjektive

électronique

numérique

informatique

Verwandt

arobase

serveur

internet

réseau

données

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely high in written French, high in formal spoken French.

Häufige Fehler

La courriel → Le courriel
Courriel is masculine. This is a very common gender error for beginners.
Un mél → Un courriel
'Mél.' is an abbreviation for a label, not a noun you can use in a sentence.
Envoyer sur courriel → Envoyer par courriel
Use the preposition 'par' to indicate the medium of communication.
Couriel → Courriel
The word must have two 'r's, following the root word 'courrier'.
Un email (in a formal letter) → Un courriel
While understood, 'email' is an anglicism and should be avoided in formal French writing.

Tipps

Gender Check

Always remember 'le courriel'. Even though it might sound soft, it is a masculine noun. This affects adjectives and articles.

Double the R

Just like 'courrier', 'courriel' has two 'r's. If you write it with one 'r', it is a spelling mistake.

Formal Writing

In a cover letter or formal email, always use 'courriel'. Using 'mail' might make you seem less professional.

Quebec Standard

If you are in Quebec, 'courriel' is the only word people use. Using 'mail' there will mark you as an outsider.

Attachments

When sending a courriel, use the phrase 'Veuillez trouver ci-joint' to refer to attachments. It is the standard professional way.

Phishing

Learn the word 'hameçonnage'. It is the French word for phishing, which often happens via courriel.

Spam

Use 'courriel indésirable' for spam. It's the term you'll see in your Gmail or Outlook settings in French.

The Ending

The 'iel' ending is pronounced like 'yell'. Don't let the 'i' disappear; it's a clear two-part sound 'ee-ell'.

CCing

Use 'mettre en copie' when you want to tell someone you are CCing them in a courriel.

Folders

Your 'boîte de réception' is your inbox. Your 'messages envoyés' are your sent items. These are key terms for managing courriels.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'COURRIER' (mail) + 'EL' (electronic). Courrier-EL = Courriel.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a traditional paper envelope (courrier) turning into a bolt of electricity (électronique) as it enters a computer.

Word Web

Internet Ordinateur Message Envoyer Recevoir Adresse Arobase Pièce jointe

Herausforderung

Try to use the word 'courriel' five times today instead of 'mail' when speaking or writing in French.

Wortherkunft

Created in the early 1990s as a portmanteau of 'courrier' (mail) and 'électronique' (electronic).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Electronic mail.

Romance (French), modern neologism.

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but using 'mail' in a very formal Quebec environment might be seen as lazy or overly Americanized.

English speakers often find it strange that French has a specific word for email, as 'email' is used globally. However, French speakers value this distinction.

Official Journal of the French Republic (2003 decree) Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) guidelines Academy of French Language (Académie française) recommendations

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Work / Professional

Cordialement
Ci-joint
En réponse à votre courriel
Pour faire suite à notre échange

Administration / Government

Accuser réception
Dossier
Formulaire
Identifiant

Education

Professeur
Consignes
Examen
Rendre un devoir

Technical Support

Mot de passe
Lien de réinitialisation
Assistance
Problème de connexion

Social / Friends

À plus
Tiens-moi au courant
Photo
Invitation

Gesprächseinstiege

"Est-ce que tu reçois beaucoup de courriels chaque jour ?"

"Préfères-tu communiquer par courriel ou par téléphone ?"

"As-tu déjà reçu un courriel d'hameçonnage ?"

"À quelle fréquence consultes-tu tes courriels personnels ?"

"Quel est l'objet du dernier courriel que tu as envoyé ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris ta routine de gestion de courriels le matin.

Écris un courriel imaginaire à ton futur toi-même.

Penses-tu que le courriel va disparaître au profit des applications de messagerie ?

Raconte une fois où tu as envoyé un courriel à la mauvaise personne.

Pourquoi est-il important d'utiliser le mot 'courriel' plutôt que 'mail' en français ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

It is masculine: 'le courriel' or 'un courriel'. This is because it comes from 'le courrier', which is also masculine.

Yes, 'mail' is very common in spoken French in France. However, for any writing or formal situation, 'courriel' is much better.

The plural is 'les courriels'. You simply add an 's' to the end of the word.

There isn't a single verb like 'to email'. You say 'envoyer un courriel à quelqu'un' or sometimes 'courrieller' in Quebec.

No, 'mél.' is an abbreviation for 'messagerie électronique'. You should only see it on business cards before an email address.

It was created in Quebec in the 1990s as a portmanteau of 'courrier' and 'électronique' to avoid using the English word 'email'.

The official term is 'courriel indésirable', but in Quebec, they use the clever word 'pourriel'.

In French, the '@' symbol is called 'arobase'. It is essential for saying your email address.

Yes, it is the official term in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and many African countries.

'Courriel' is always digital. 'Courrier' can be digital but usually refers to physical letters sent by post.

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