Valediction - French

French

Standard French language valedictions tend to be much more complex than standard English ones, more akin to older English valedictions. They show a fair degree of variation, for example:

Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes sentiments distingués.

"Please accept, Madam, Sir, the expression of my distinguished sentiments."

Or:

Veuillez recevoir, Madame, mes sincères salutations.

"Please receive, Madam, my sincere salutations."

Or:

Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur, à mes sentiments les meilleurs.

"I beg you to believe, Sir, in my best sentiments."

In the latter case of a formula beginning with the first person, the valediction is often enhanced with a participial phrase concluding the sense of the letter (since traditionally it is not considered appropriate to begin a paragraph with the first person singular je in a letter):

Espérant recevoir une réponse favorable, je vous prie d'agréer, Madame…

"Hoping for a favourable answer, I beg you to allow, Madam…"

A number of rules concern the use of these formulae:

• the title used in the salutation of the letter must be reproduced in the valediction; so a letter addressing Madame la députée would conclude, Veuillez, Madame la députée.
• the wording recevoir l'assurance should be used in a letter from a hierarchical superior to an inferior, whereas the wording agréer l'expression should be used in a letter from a hierarchical inferior to a superior, and not conversely.
• in a letter from a man to a woman or from a woman to a man, the writer must not send sentiments if they are not close family relatives (i.e. mother and son, father and daughter, brother and sister, or possibly close cousins).

Such formulae may be used even in more friendly letters, often with the adjective cher or chère for the recipient. Letters to dignitaries may use even more grandiose styles, such as:

Daignez, Monsieur le Premier ministre, agréer l'expression de ma considération très distinguée.

"Deign, Mr. Prime Minister, to allow the expression of my most distinguished consideration."

According to the French typographic rules, the proper capitalization for the official title is "Premier ministre" although people who mimic English titles or fear that they might appear disrespectful often use more capitals than the rules commend.

Veuillez agréer, Madame l'Ambassadeur, l'expression de mes salutations les plus respectueuses.

"Please allow, Madam Ambassador, the expression of my most respectful salutations."

Another French typographic rule also states that when addressing someone, styles like Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle, should never be abbreviated, even if followed by a title (hence, writing M. le Premier Ministre or Mme l'Ambassadeur would be considered clumsy).

Much shorter styles may be used in brief notes (Sincères salutations), and informal letters (such as between intimates) may use expressions such as (with approximate English equivalents – not literal translations):

• Amicalement ("In friendship")
• Amitiés ("Your friend")
• À bientôt ("See you soon")
• Au plaisir de vous revoir ("Hope to see you again soon")
• Bien amicalement ("In Good Friendship")
• Bien à vous ("Best Wishes")
• Cordialement ("Cordially")
• Meilleures salutations ("Best Salutations")
• Salutations distinguées ("With Distinguished Salutations")

Unlike in English, when the letter writer has a title that is unique in his or her organization, it is placed before, not after, the name:

Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur, mes sincères salutations.

La vice-présidente des ressources humaines,

A.B.