What does it mean word for word?
The phrase veuillez me contacter is composed of the imperative form of vouloir (to want or wish), the object pronoun me (me) and the infinitive contacter (to contact).
Which one should you use?
While veuillez me contacter is a polite request using a formulaic expression, the direct imperative contactez-moi (contact me) is a command and is less formal.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form veuillez me contacter is formal and is most appropriate for professional correspondence, such as emails or business letters. For even more formal situations, you might use Je vous prie de bien vouloir me contacter (I beg you to kindly contact me) or Pourriez-vous me contacter, s'il vous plaît? (Could you please contact me?). In informal or colloquial contexts, you should use Contacte-moi, s'il te plaît (Contact me, please), Contacte-moi (the informal imperative) or Pourrais-tu me contacter, s'il te plaît? (Could you please contact me?).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this construction, the object pronoun me must be placed directly before the infinitive verb contacter.
Did you know?
- In highly formal French correspondence, the phrase Je vous prie de bien vouloir me contacter literally translates to 'I pray you to be kind enough to contact me'.
- Switching from the polite veuillez me contacter to the direct contactez-moi in a business email can be perceived by a French reader as a sign of impatience or an abrupt shift in tone.
- The word veuillez is actually a highly polite way of saying 'please want to'. It comes from the verb vouloir, which means 'to want', making the phrase a way of asking someone to 'be so kind as to want to contact me'.
Examples in context
- Veuillez me contacter par lettre.Please contact me by letter.This sentence is useful for specifying contact by letter using veuillez me contacter.Tatoeba #1032657 by sacredceltic, translation #265969 by CK
- Si vous souhaitez en savoir davantage, veuillez me contacter.If you would like to have further information, please contact me.This sentence is useful for requesting further information using veuillez me contacter.Tatoeba #335807 by TRANG, translation #29875 by CK
- Je suis intéressé(e) par votre offre d'emploi. Veuillez me contacter pour discuter des détails.I am interested in your job offer. Please contact me to discuss the details.
- Salut ! Si tu as le temps, contacte-moi pour qu'on puisse parler de notre projet ensemble, s'il te plaît.Hi! If you have time, contact me so we can discuss our project together, please.
- Veuillez me contacter si vous avez des questions.Please contact me if you have any questions.
Example conversation
Chloé is sending a professional email to Lucas regarding a project.
- ChloéBonjour Lucas, j'ai terminé le dossier.Hello Lucas, I have finished the file.
- LucasMerci Chloé, je vais le regarder.Thank you Chloé, I will look at it.
- ChloéVeuillez me contacter pour en discuter.Please contact me to discuss it.
- LucasD'accord, je vous appelle demain.Okay, I will call you tomorrow.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
