For everything from cover letters to thank you cards, adding a French letter closing can help add personality and flair to a letter or e-mail. French sign-offs can help connect with the reader or bring attention to the language skills the writer offers.
The following French letter closings and salutations are referenced with the Collins-Robert French Dictionary (2002).
Formal French Letter Closings for Ending a Business Letter
Professional-sounding French letter closings can be useful in many circumstances, such as ending a cover letter or approaching an international business colleague. The cleanest and most professional business letter closing is “Sincèrement”. This cognate (cognates are words in different languages that share the same root) translates to the American English “Sincerely” or the British English “Yours faithfully”.
As with the term "Sincerely", “Sincèrement” offers a brief, respectful, and neutral tone for ending a letter. Other professional French letter closings include:
- Cordialement (which translates as "Kind regards")
- Bien cordialement (similar to Cordialement, but with a little more warmth and meaning "Kindest regards")
- Salutations distinguées (which offers respectful regards to the adressee)
For an extremely formal French letter closing, add the phrase “Je vous prie d'agréer, Monsieur/Madame, l'expression de mes sincères salutations.” This French phrase loosely translates as "Please accept this expression of my sincerest regards". There are many versions of this phrase, but due to the complexities of French gender rules, the above example remains a formal French letter closing that is suitable for ending most business letters.
French Letter Closings for Letters and E-mails to Friends and Family
Aside from formal letter closings in French, many writers may be sending notes to friends and family. There are many casual and friendly ways to end a letter in French that range from a brief, warm “Bises” (meaning "Kisses") to a cheery letter closing such as “À bientôt” (which translates as "See you soon").
Another standard French letter closing for family and friends is “Affectueusement”, which is equal to the English “Love from”. Other ways to end a letter in French include:
- Avec mes amitiés (meaning "In friendship")
- Bien amicalement (which translates as "Best wishes')
- Chaleureusement (a letter closing that means "Warmly")
- Bien à toi (meaning "Best wishes")
- Grosses bises (a variation on Bises, meaning "Lots of kisses")
These friendly French closings are perfect for a holiday card, a personal e-mail, or for expressing gratitude in a thank you note.
Ending a Letter with the Best Closing or Sign-off
For guidance on selecting an appropriate goodbye for any letter, read about the varied options for letter closings in ways to end a letter as well as the importance of using business letter closings. And for more sign-offs in other languages, review the Spanish options in Using Spanish Letter Closings.
Chloë Ernst - Chloë Ernst is a travel guidebook author who writes for Frommer's and Globe Pequot Press.
