Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| courrier | /ku.ʁje/ | |
| correspondance | /kɔ.ʁɛs.pɔ̃.dɑ̃s/ | feminine |
The word courrier refers to physical items like letters and parcels. You can use the phrase envoyer du courrier to mean "to send mail" and recevoir du courrier to mean "to receive mail". If you need to specify electronic mail to distinguish it from physical post, use courrier électronique, though e-mail is also common in modern French. Additionally, the term for "mailbox" is La boîte aux lettres.
Which one should you use?
In contrast, the feminine noun correspondance refers to the act or the collection of communication between people.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Because courrier is a masculine uncountable noun in this context, you use the partitive article du to say "some mail".
How do you pronounce it?
/ku.ʁje/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the word 'mail' (the English word) in French, but you should use courrier for physical post.
Did you know?
- Despite the availability of courrier électronique, many French speakers simply use the shortened term mél as an official French alternative to 'email'.
- The word courrier is a distant relative of the English word 'career', as both traces back to the idea of 'running' or 'moving' quickly.
- In very formal or literary French, correspondance can be used to describe the way different parts of a painting or building 'talk' to one another.
Examples in context
- Tu as du courrier.You have some mail.This sentence is useful for saying "You have some mail."Tatoeba #4599598 by sacredceltic, translation #1618516 by wallebot
- Vous avez du courrier.You have mail.Tatoeba #4599600 by sacredceltic, translation #2254996 by CK
- Je reçois peu de courrier.I don't get much mail.This sentence is useful for saying "I don't get much mail."Tatoeba #2069646 by sacredceltic, translation #1887226 by CK
- J'attends un courrier important aujourd'hui.I'm expecting an important mail today.
- Le courrier électronique a révolutionné la communication.Email has revolutionized communication.
- Je dois encore passer à La Poste pour envoyer le courrier.I still need to go to the post office to send the mail.
- As-tu reçu le courrier aujourd'hui ? J'ai deux mails intéressants pour toi !Did you receive the mail today? I have two interesting emails for you!
- J'ai envoyé du courrier à mes grands-parents.I sent mail to my grandparents.
- Je reçois beaucoup de courrier électronique chaque jour.I receive a lot of email every day.
- N'oublie pas de vérifier la boîte aux lettres chaque jour.Don't forget to check the mailbox every day.
- 52 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are in the hallway of their apartment.
- EmmaHugo, est-ce que tu as relevé le courrier ?Hugo, did you collect the mail?
- HugoOui, il y a une lettre pour toi.Yes, there is a letter for you.
- EmmaMerci, je vais prendre le courrier tout de suite.Thanks, I'll take the mail right now.
- HugoD'accord, c'est sur la table.Okay, it is on the table.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mail” translations and entries courrier, correspondance, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries correspondance, courrier, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
