Meaning
To initiate communication with someone, often for a specific purpose.
Cultural Background
In French business culture, 'entrer en contact' is often preceded by a formal 'Monsieur' or 'Madame'. Jumping straight to the point without this 'entry' ritual is considered rude. In Quebec, while 'entrer en contact' is used, you might also hear 'rejoindre' more frequently in casual contexts to mean 'to get a hold of someone'. Swiss French speakers use this phrase similarly to France, but in administrative contexts, it is extremely common to see it in official letters regarding 'communes'. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, 'entrer en contact' is used with high respect for hierarchy. It is often used when asking for an audience with an elder or a chief.
Email Mastery
Use 'Je me permets d'entrer en contact avec vous' to start an email to someone you've never met. It's the ultimate polite opener.
The 'Être' Trap
Always remember 'Je suis entré' in the past. Using 'J'ai entré' is a very common B1-level mistake.
Meaning
To initiate communication with someone, often for a specific purpose.
Email Mastery
Use 'Je me permets d'entrer en contact avec vous' to start an email to someone you've never met. It's the ultimate polite opener.
The 'Être' Trap
Always remember 'Je suis entré' in the past. Using 'J'ai entré' is a very common B1-level mistake.
LinkedIn Etiquette
When clicking 'Connect' on LinkedIn in France, always add a note saying you'd like to 'entrer en contact' to discuss a specific topic.
Synonym Swap
If you've already used 'entrer en contact' once in a letter, switch to 'prendre contact' for the second mention to avoid repetition.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct auxiliary and phrase.
Elle ________ ________ en contact avec son avocat hier.
We use 'être' for the verb 'entrer' and agree the past participle 'entrée' with the feminine subject 'Elle'.
Which sentence is the most appropriate for a professional email?
You want to tell a recruiter you will reach out to them.
This uses the correct collocation and the formal 'vous'.
Match the French phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are the four main 'contact' collocations in French.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Comment puis-je en savoir plus sur ce produit ? B: Vous devriez ________ en contact avec notre expert.
'Entrer en contact' is the standard collocation here.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Scale
Common Prepositions
With People
- • avec quelqu'un
By Means
- • par email
- • par écrit
Practice Bank
4 exercisesElle ________ ________ en contact avec son avocat hier.
We use 'être' for the verb 'entrer' and agree the past participle 'entrée' with the feminine subject 'Elle'.
You want to tell a recruiter you will reach out to them.
This uses the correct collocation and the formal 'vous'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the four main 'contact' collocations in French.
A: Comment puis-je en savoir plus sur ce produit ? B: Vous devriez ________ en contact avec notre expert.
'Entrer en contact' is the standard collocation here.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsYes, usually. For a text to a friend, just say 'Je t'appelle' or 'Je t'écris'.
Yes, in science or mechanics, e.g., 'Les deux pièces entrent en contact'.
'Contacter' is a simple verb; 'entrer en contact' is a more descriptive collocation that sounds slightly more professional.
No. You can say 'Nous sommes enfin entrés en contact.'
It is always 'en contact'. Never use 'dans le'.
You can, but it sounds very intentional and serious. It's not 'flirty'.
Use 'Je vous recontacterai' or 'Je reviendrai vers vous'.
Yes, frequently, to define how parties should communicate.
Yes, it's very common to specify the method after the phrase.
It is considered B1 because it involves a specific collocation and 'être' auxiliary usage.
Not directly, but 'checker' or 'faire un signe' are casual alternatives.
No, it just refers to the moment the communication starts.
Related Phrases
Prendre contact
synonymTo initiate contact
Rester en contact
builds onTo stay in touch
Perdre contact
contrastTo lose touch
Mettre en relation
specialized formTo connect two other people
