This French A1 lesson explains short messages in French step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on short messages in French and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: A short message in French has three parts: an opening that matches the reader (Salut or Bonjour Madame), one or two present-tense facts such as Je suis à Nice. Il fait beau., and a closing like À bientôt or Cordialement. Dates put the day first: le 3 mai.
Level: French A1 (CEFR beginner) · Standards: CEFR A1, Writing
Short messages in French: the lesson
How do you open and close a short message in French?
The opening and the closing follow the reader, not the topic. Choose the tone first; the middle of the message is then made of short present-tense sentences.
| Reader | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|
| Friend, sibling | Salut Inès, Coucou Léa ! | À bientôt ! Gros bisous |
| Coworker you know | Bonjour Thomas, | À demain. Bonne journée ! |
| Landlord, teacher | Bonjour Madame, | Cordialement, Merci d’avance. |
Friends sign with Bises (kisses) or Amitiés (best wishes); with a stranger, Cordialement is the safe choice.
What goes into a postcard or a quick text?
Four small facts are enough: where you are, the weather, one activity, and the day you come home.
Four building blocks
- Je suis à Tahiti. — I’m in Tahiti.
- Il fait beau. — The weather is nice.
- Je visite le marché. — I’m visiting the market.
- Je rentre samedi. — I’m coming home on Saturday.
How do you propose a meeting or answer an invitation?
Proposing and answering
Raise your voice at the end, or write a question mark: Tu es libre ce soir ? — Are you free tonight? Give the hour with à and the letter h: à 19 h. Say yes with D’accord ! and no with Désolé, je ne peux pas.
Which short forms can you use in texts?
| Short form | Full form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| stp | s’il te plaît | please (to a friend) |
| bcp | beaucoup | a lot |
| dsl | désolé | sorry |
| a+ | à plus tard | see you later |
Watch out
English “Dear Sam” becomes Cher Sam for a man but Chère Amina for a woman: the adjective agrees with the reader. Dates put the day first and take no ordinal: le 3 mai, not “May 3rd” (only the first of the month is le 1er mai). Never use short forms with a landlord or an employer.
Culture note
French writers often use the 24-hour style even in friendly notes: Rendez-vous à 18 h 30. A postcard is usually signed with a first name only, and the stamp goes in the top right corner.
Zoé’s tip
Build every message in three beats: a greeting, one useful fact, a goodbye. If the message has more than four lines, split it in two texts!
Key points to remember
- Pick the opening and closing by tone: friend, colleague or stranger.
- Cher agrees with the reader: Cher Sam, Chère Amina.
- Dates put the day first with no ordinal: le 14 juillet, le 1er mai.
- Hours are written with h: à 19 h 30.
- Short forms such as stp or bcp are for friends only.
Notes, Texts and Postcards for Friends: frequently asked questions
What is the most neutral way to end a message in French?
Cordialement works for almost any non-friend reader, from a landlord to a coworker. It is short, polite and never wrong. Add Merci d’avance when you ask for something.
Should I write Cher or Chère?
Match the reader: Cher for a man, Chère for a woman. In a friendly text, most people simply write Salut or the first name, so the problem disappears.
How do I write the date on a postcard?
Write the day first, then the month in lowercase: le 12 août. Only the first of the month uses an ordinal: le 1er août.
Can I use text abbreviations such as stp and bcp?
Yes, with friends and family. Avoid them with a boss, a teacher or an official office, where complete words look more respectful.
How do I say I am coming home on a given day?
Use the present tense with a bare day name: Je rentre samedi. means I’m coming home this Saturday. With le samedi, the sentence means every Saturday.