How to Write Formal French Email Greetings: 'Dear Mr. Smith' and Other Openings
Learn to open formal French emails correctly with titles, names and salutations like 'Bonjour Monsieur Smith' and 'Madame, Monsieur'.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
French formal emails rarely begin with a literal translation of 'Dear'. Instead, French relies on a small set of salutations built from Bonjour, titles such as Monsieur and Madame, and the recipient's name. Choosing the right opening depends on whether you know the person's name, their title, and how many people will read the message. This lesson covers only openings, so you can start a professional email confidently without worrying yet about how to end it.
By the end, you can…
- open a formal French email to a named recipient using the correct title and surname.
- choose between 'Bonjour Monsieur,' 'Bonjour Monsieur Dupont' and 'Madame, Monsieur' depending on what I know about the reader.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour Monsieur Dupont,
Dear Mr. Dupont,
bon-ZHOOR muh-SYUH doo-PON
Standard formal opening when you know the man's surname. Use a comma, then start a new line.
Bonjour Madame Martin,
Dear Ms. Martin,
bon-ZHOOR ma-DAM mar-TAN
Madame covers both married and unmarried women in professional French; never use Mademoiselle in business writing.
Bonjour Monsieur,
Dear Sir,
bon-ZHOOR muh-SYUH
Use when you know the recipient is a man but not his name, for example replying to a general contact address.
Madame, Monsieur,
Dear Sir or Madam,
ma-DAM muh-SYUH
The safe opening for a first contact when you do not know who will read the email. Note the comma between the two titles.
Bonjour Docteur Legrand,
Dear Dr. Legrand,
bon-ZHOOR dok-TUHR luh-GRAN
Titles such as Docteur, Maître or Professeur replace Monsieur or Madame in very formal contexts.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Bonjour + title + surname + comma. For example: 'Bonjour Madame Leroy,' or 'Bonjour Monsieur Dubois,'. When the surname is unknown, the title stands alone: 'Bonjour Madame,'. When even the title is unknown, French uses the paired formula 'Madame, Monsieur,'. Unlike English 'Dear', Bonjour keeps a friendly, neutral tone and is now standard in professional email, even with senior recipients.
When to use it
Use 'Bonjour Monsieur Dupont,' when you know the reader's name and gender. Use 'Bonjour Monsieur,' when you know only the gender. Use 'Madame, Monsieur,' for a first approach to a company, a department or a shared inbox. In Canada, 'Bonjour' openings are equally standard, but English-language business contacts there may also accept 'Dear'. In very hierarchical or traditional French institutions, some writers still prefer 'Monsieur le Directeur,' without Bonjour, though this is less common in email.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour Madame Roy, je vous écris au sujet de votre annonce.
Dear Ms. Roy, I am writing to you about your advertisement.bon-ZHOOR ma-DAM RWA, zhuh voo zay-KREE oh soo-ZHAA duh votr a-NONSSBonjour Monsieur, pouvez-vous préciser votre demande ?
Dear Sir, could you specify your request?bon-ZHOOR muh-SYUH, poo-vay VOO pray-see-ZAY votr duh-MANDMadame, Monsieur, je souhaite obtenir un devis pour vos services.
Dear Sir or Madam, I would like to obtain a quote for your services.ma-DAM muh-SYUH, zhuh soo-ET uhp-tuh-NEER un duh-VEE poor vo sair-VEESSBonjour Docteur Legrand, votre dossier est bien reçu.
Dear Dr. Legrand, your file has been received.bon-ZHOOR dok-TUHR luh-GRAN, votr do-SYAY ay byan ruh-SOOA little context goes a long way
In French professional writing, 'Mademoiselle' has largely disappeared from business email because it comments on a woman's marital status; 'Madame' is the safe default for any adult woman. Similarly, French usually omits the first name in the opening line, even when correspondents know each other well, and keeps it for later in the message or for the closing.
One thing to watch for
Translating 'Dear Mr. Smith' word-for-word as 'Cher Monsieur Smith,'.
Try this instead: 'Cher' sounds too intimate or old-fashioned for a first professional email and can feel odd with a surname. Use 'Bonjour Monsieur Smith,' instead. Reserve 'Cher Monsieur Smith,' for warmer follow-up correspondence after an established relationship.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are writing to a woman named Claire Fontaine and you know her surname. What is the best opening?
Show a sample answer
Bonjour Madame Fontaine,
This uses Bonjour plus the title Madame plus the surname, the standard formal opening. 'Bonjour Claire,' would be too informal for a first professional contact.
2You are emailing a company's general contact address and do not know who will read it. What opening should you use?
Show a sample answer
Madame, Monsieur,
This paired formula covers an unknown reader of either gender. 'Bonjour,' alone is possible in some modern workplaces but less formal, and 'Cher Monsieur,' would be inappropriate.
3You are writing to a male professor whose surname you do not know. What opening works?
Show a sample answer
Bonjour Monsieur,
The title stands alone when the surname is unknown. 'Bonjour Professeur,' is also possible if you know the academic title, but 'Bonjour Monsieur,' is the safest general choice.
Open formal French emails with Bonjour plus the correct title and surname, or use 'Madame, Monsieur,' when the reader is unknown; avoid 'Cher' and 'Mademoiselle' in first professional contact.
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