bureau de poste
/by.ʁo d(ə) pɔst/masculine
The English phrase "post office" is translated into French as bureau de poste.
bureau de poste is a masculine noun used to refer to the physical place where mail and postal services are handled.
Meaning: place (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "office of post".
How does it change in a sentence?
To form the plural, only the word bureau changes to bureaux. The word poste remains in its singular form. For example, "post offices" is bureaux de poste.
How do you pronounce it?
/by.ʁo d(ə) pɔst/
Did you know?
- In France, the bureau de poste often serves as a financial hub. Many French people use their local post office as their primary bank for basic savings accounts.
- The word bureau comes from a term for coarse woolen cloth. This is because early officials covered their writing tables with this fabric to keep the surface warm and the papers from slipping.
- The word poste is also used for a military or guard station. This shared term emphasizes the idea of a fixed station or point of duty.
Examples in context
- J'ai été au bureau de poste.I've been to the post office.This sentence shows how to express having been to the bureau de poste.Tatoeba #5503502 by Aiji, translation #2359279 by CK
- Le bureau de poste est fermé.The post office is closed.This sentence is useful for stating that the bureau de poste is closed.Tatoeba #7790925 by Aiji, translation #4080949 by CK
- Je suis dans le bureau de poste.I'm in the post office.This sentence is useful for saying you are currently inside the bureau de poste.Tatoeba #2736069 by Aiji, translation #2724256 by sundown
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are walking through the city.
- ManonOù est le bureau de poste ?Where is the post office?
- HugoLe bureau de poste est juste après le parc.The post office is just after the park.
- ManonMerci pour l'aide, Hugo.Thanks for the help, Hugo.
- HugoDe rien, Manon.You're welcome, Manon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “post office” translations and entries bureau de poste, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bureau, de, poste, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
