fin de la journée
The English phrase 'close of business' is translated into French as fin de la journée.
In a professional context, fin de la journée is the standard way to refer to the close of business or the end of the working day.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase fin de la journée literally translates to 'end of the day'.
Which one should you use?
To say something will happen 'at' the close of business, use the prepositional phrase en fin de journée.
Did you know?
- In a French office, if someone says they will do something en fin de journée, they may actually mean early evening, as the workday often extends later than the standard 5 PM 'close of business' in English.
- The word journée comes from the Vulgar Latin diurnāta, which originally referred to a day's work or a daily wage.
- In French, fin can also mean 'fine' or 'excellent', such as in the expression un travail fin, though in the context of time it strictly means 'end'.
Examples in context
- Le rapport doit être soumis avant la fin de la journée de travail.The report must be submitted before close of business.
- La clôture des activités est fixée à 17 heures tous les jours.The close of business is set at 5 p.m. every day.
- On se voit après la fin de la journée.Let's meet up after close of business.
- Tu as fini toutes tes tâches avant la fermeture?Did you finish all your tasks before close of business?
- Demain, on pourra sortir dès la fin du boulot!Tomorrow, we can go out right after close of business!
- Je vous enverrai le rapport en fin de journée.I will send you the report by the end of the day.
- Le projet doit être prêt avant la fin de la journée.The project must be ready before the end of the day.
- On se voit à la fin de la journée ?Shall we see each other at the end of the day?
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a deadline in the office.
- ManonGabriel, as-tu fini le dossier ?Gabriel, have you finished the file?
- GabrielPas encore, mais je le fais pour la fin de la journée.Not yet, but I'll have it done by the close of business.
- ManonC'est parfait, Manon sera contente.That's perfect, Manon will be happy.
- GabrielJe t'envoie ça dès que c'est prêt.I'll send it to you as soon as it's ready.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, fin, journée, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
