10 phrases for talking to your French colleagues at work

🗣️ Phrase #1 : "Tu as passé un bon week-end ?"

This is the classic phrase to start a light conversation at the beginning of the week. The French love to talk about what they did over the weekend. Even if the answer is something simple like "Oh, rien de fou, j’ai juste profité pour me reposer" (Oh, nothing crazy, I just took the time to rest), asking this question shows interest in your colleague. And that’s a great way to build connections!

🗣️ Phrase #2 : "Tu peux m’éclairer sur ce sujet ?"

👉 Explanation: This phrase is perfect when you need clarifications or explanations about a task or a project.
 

• "Éclairer" literally means "to bring light" to a subject, in other words, to explain something that isn’t clear.
   

Example: "Je n’ai pas bien compris comment on doit organiser cette réunion. Tu peux m’éclairer sur ce sujet ?"
 

👉 Tip: Use this phrase when you want to ask for help in a polite and respectful way. It shows curiosity and engagement.
 

🗣️ Phrase #3 : "Est-ce qu’on peut décaler la réunion à plus tard ?"

👉 Explanation: This phrase is very useful when managing schedule changes.
 

• "Décaler" means to move something to a later time.
   
• "À plus tard" is a common expression meaning "at another time later in the day."
   

👉 Example: "J’ai un imprévu ce matin. Est-ce qu’on peut décaler la réunion à plus tard dans l’après-midi ?"
 

👉 Tip: You can replace "à plus tard" with a specific time: "Est-ce qu’on peut décaler la réunion à 16h ?"
 

🗣️ Phrase #4 : "Tu peux m’envoyer ça par mail / email, s’il te plaît ?"

👉 Explanation: In France, people often use the word "mail" to talk about an email. It’s a common anglicism, so don’t be surprised if you hear it frequently.
 

👉 Example: "Tu peux m’envoyer le compte-rendu par mail, s’il te plaît ?"
 

👉 Tip: If you want to be more formal, you can say "courriel", but be careful—it sounds quite administrative in an informal context.
 

🗣️ Phrase #5 : "Besoin d’un coup de main sur ce dossier ?"

👉 Explanation: This phrase is ideal when offering help to a colleague who seems overwhelmed.
 

• "Un coup de main" is an idiomatic expression meaning "to lend a hand" or "to help someone."
   

👉 Example: "Tu as l’air d’avoir des difficultés avec ce projet. Besoin d’un coup de main sur ce dossier ?"
 

👉 Tip: This is a great way to show team spirit and that you value collaboration.
 

🎁 Bonus Tip: Practice these phrases in a supportive environment

These phrases are simple, but to use them naturally, you need practice! If you’re looking for the perfect environment to practice speaking French, join Ohlala French Coffee.
 

With small conversation groups led by native teachers, you’ll get to use these types of phrases in real-life discussions. Plus, you can try it for free for 7 days, with no commitment.