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Opening & Closing a Call Professionally

The problem

Phone calls terrify French professionals more than any other English situation. You can't see the other person's face, there's no time to think, and you can't use a dictionary. The solution: learn the fixed phrases. 80% of every business call uses the same structures.

Opening — when you call

"Hi, this is [your name] from [company]. I'm calling about..."
Bonjour, c'est [nom] de [entreprise]. J'appelle au sujet de...
→ Your default opener. Name + company + reason. Done in one sentence.

"Is this a good time to talk?"
C'est un bon moment pour parler ?
→ Shows respect for their time. Always ask before launching into your topic.

Opening — when you answer

"Good morning, [your name] speaking."
Bonjour, [nom] à l'appareil.
Professional and clear. Avoid just "hello?" — it sounds unprepared.

"How can I help you?" / "What can I do for you?"
Comment puis-je vous aider ?
Opens the conversation to the caller. Friendly and professional.

Closing

"Thanks for your time. I'll send you a follow-up email."
Merci pour votre temps. Je vous enverrai un email de suivi.
Confirms next steps. Never just hang up without a clear ending.

"Speak soon. Have a great day."
À bientôt. Bonne journée.
Warm and final. The other person knows the call is over.

Common mistakes

French speakers say ~~"I am [name]"~~ on the phone — in English, say "This is [name]" or "[name] speaking." Also avoid ~~"I call for..."~~ — use "I'm calling about..." (present continuous, not simple present).

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