À la Poste — French post office vocabulary | Vocabulary
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Sending letters and parcels in French. This French sending letters parcels vocabulary list gives you 22 essential words — from la poste (the post office) to un accusé de réception (proof of receipt) — each with audio and its English translation. Use it to build the French words you need to talk about sending letters parcels, then test yourself with the games below.
À la Poste
Sending letters and parcels in French
Les objets ✉️
Les actions 📮
Qui & où 🏤
🎬 The 20-second version
5 quick questions on « À la Poste » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →
📘 Posting, French-style
- Ask at the counter (le guichet): « Je voudrais envoyer ce colis, s’il vous plaît. »
- For important documents, send them en recommandé (avec accusé de réception) — registered, with proof of delivery.
- A French address ends with a 5-digit code postal + town: « 75001 PARIS ». The code comes BEFORE the town.
- The facteur (postman) usually passes in the morning; mail goes in la boîte aux lettres.
- La Poste is also a bank (La Banque Postale) — you can do far more than buy stamps there.
🔊 Useful phrases
🔊 Example sentences
✍️ Practice
a stamp = un ___ (for a letter)
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timbre
a parcel = un ___ (bigger than a letter)
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colis
registered post = en ___ (for important mail)
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recommandé
🎮 Practise this with games
🎯 More practice — vocabulary recall — both directions
How do you say « the post office »? (recall)
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la poste
What does « une lettre » mean? (recall)
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a letter
How do you say « an envelope »? (recall)
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une enveloppe
What does « la boîte aux lettres » mean? (recall)
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the letterbox
How do you say « to send »? (recall)
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envoyer
What does « affranchir » mean? (recall)
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to put a stamp on
How do you say « by registered post »? (recall)
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en recommandé
What does « l’adresse » mean? (recall)
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the address
Go further: Les sigles français — SNCF, CAF, CDI….
French sending letters parcels vocabulary — FAQ
How do you say common sending letters parcels words in French?
For example: the post office is « la poste », a stamp is « un timbre », a letter is « une lettre ». The full list above has 22 French sending letters parcels words, each with audio so you can hear the pronunciation.
What are the most useful French sending letters parcels words to learn first?
Start with the basics: la poste (the post office), un timbre (a stamp), une lettre (a letter), un colis (a parcel), une enveloppe (an envelope), une carte postale (a postcard). Master these core French words before moving on to the rest of the list.
How can I memorise French sending letters parcels vocabulary?
Learn the words in small themed groups, say each one out loud with the audio, and use it in a short sentence about your own life. Spaced repetition is what makes new vocabulary stick — see our guide to learning French vocabulary that sticks.
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