Business French In Quebec: Office Vocabulary And Etiquette
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Working in Quebec requires understanding a unique mix of North American corporate culture and the French language.
The office environment here has its own specific vocabulary and unwritten rules of etiquette.
Knowing these regional differences will help you navigate your workplace with confidence.
I’ll explain the most important Quebecois business terms and cultural norms below.
Table of contents:
Navigating tu and vous at work
Addressing colleagues correctly is your first major priority.
In France, the formal vous is strictly maintained in professional settings.
Quebecois workplace culture is much more relaxed.
Coworkers almost always use the informal tu with each other from day one.
You should still use vous during a job interview or when speaking to a high-level executive for the first time.
However, expect them to invite you to switch to tu almost immediately.
If you’re unsure, simply wait and mirror the pronoun your colleague uses with you.
Essential Quebecois office vocabulary
Quebecois business French features a mix of official French terms and adapted English words.
You’ll hear plenty of corporate anglicisms in daily office conversations.
The provincial government heavily promotes official French terms, so you’ll see formal vocabulary in written documents.
Here’s a list of common office words you’ll encounter in Quebec.
| English | Quebecois French (Spoken/Informal) | Standard French (Written/Formal) |
|---|---|---|
| Job / Work | La job / L’ouvrage | L’emploi / Le travail |
| Boss | Le boss | Le patron / Le gestionnaire |
| Meeting | Un meeting | Une réunion / Une rencontre |
| Un email | Un courriel | |
| Weekend | La fin de semaine | Le week-end |
| Overtime | Du temps supplémentaire / De l’overtime | Des heures supplémentaires |
| To cancel | Canceller | Annuler |
| Shift | Un shift | Un quart de travail |
Phrases for business meetings and emails
Meetings in Quebec are generally straightforward and focused on efficiency.
You can open a meeting by getting right to the point without excessive formalities.
On va commencer la rencontre.
Il faut prendre une décision aujourd’hui.
Emails follow a slightly different set of rules.
Written French in Quebec remains quite standard and formal.
You should always start a professional email with a polite greeting.
Bonjour à tous,
Suite à notre rencontre…
To sign off an email, use standard professional closings.
Cordialement,
Bonne journée,
Quebec workplace etiquette and culture
The working culture in Quebec is heavily influenced by the rest of North America.
Punctuality is extremely important in the business world here.
Arriving five minutes late to a meeting is considered disrespectful.
Corporate hierarchy is also much flatter in Quebec than in Europe.
Employees are encouraged to share their opinions openly with their managers.
Work-life balance is highly valued across the province.
People rarely stay at the office late unless it’s an absolute emergency.
When the work day ends at 5:00 PM, employees are expected to completely disconnect from their emails.
Finally, French is the official language of business in Quebec.
Provincial laws require companies to communicate with their employees and the public in French.
Making an effort to speak French at work will earn you massive respect from your local colleagues.
