{"id":23403,"date":"2016-05-25T16:45:52","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T14:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/?p=23403"},"modified":"2016-05-25T16:41:24","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T14:41:24","slug":"two-different-mails-email-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/two-different-mails-email-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Different Mails – Email In French"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by Dennis Skley<\/a> on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Talking about the Internet in French can be confusing. There\u2019s a mix of vocabulary borrowed from English and new terms in French. It can also be hard to know how to say any symbol whether it’s just numbers<\/a> or “@” (arobase<\/strong>). Then there’s learning how to type using un clavier AZERTY<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n

Writing<\/a> and sending emails is another area that can complicate things. A common word for email<\/em> in French is mail<\/strong>, and even after I knew that I would still get confused. Hearing the English<\/a> word immediately made me think of a physical address rather than an email address!<\/p>\n

One time when I needed to buy de l\u2019assurance<\/strong><\/a> (some insurance) and la s\u00e9cretaire<\/strong> was asking for my information I mixed up the French mail<\/strong> and the English mail<\/em> pretty badly. Everything was fine until she asked me:<\/p>\n

– Et votre adresse mail ?
\n– Ah oui. J\u2019habite\u2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

And your email address?
\nAh yes. I live on\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She looked at me like I was crazy as I began giving her une adresse postale <\/strong>(a postal address). I didn’t even realize I had made a mistake as she began to explain:<\/p>\n

– Non, non. J\u2019ai besoin de votre adresse mail. Vous nous avez d\u00e9j\u00e0 donn\u00e9 votre adresse postale.<\/strong>
\n– Adresse mail ?<\/strong>
\n– Oui, pour que nous puissions<\/a> vous envoyer des mails concernant votre compte.<\/strong>
\n – Pour m’envoyer du courrier ?<\/strong>
\n – Non, des mails.<\/strong>
\n – Ce n\u2019est pas o\u00f9 j\u2019habite ?<\/strong>
\n – Non\u2026 c\u2019est sur Internet\u2026<\/strong>
\n – Ooooh ! Oooooh ! Je comprends ! D\u00e9sol\u00e9 ! Oui, mon adresse mail est\u2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, no. I need your email address. You already gave us your postal address.
\nEmail address?
\nYes, so that we can send you emails about your account.
\nTo send me mail?
\nNo, emails.
\nIt\u2019s not where I live?
\nNon\u2026 It\u2019s on the Internet\u2026
\nOoooh! Oooooh! I understand! Sorry! Yes, my email address is\u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I don\u2019t know who was more confused while I struggled to understand mail<\/strong> as email.<\/em> I did know that I would be sure not to confuse the two words again!<\/p>\n

There are other words to refer to email in French and if you are ever in a similar situation you can ask if they want your addresse \u00e9lectronique<\/strong> or courrier \u00e9lectronique<\/strong> to be sure that you are saying the right thing.<\/p>\n

Another word that’s often used au<\/a> Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong> is courriel<\/strong><\/em>, which is un mot-valise<\/strong> (a portmanteau) of courrier<\/strong> <\/em>and \u00e9lectronique<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

It’s also possible to see and hear email<\/strong>, e-mail<\/strong> or m\u00e9l<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Have you ever run into trouble with des faux amis<\/strong><\/a> (false friends) in French? Let me know in un commentaire<\/strong> below!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Talking about the Internet in French can be confusing. There\u2019s a mix of vocabulary borrowed from English and new terms in French. It can also be hard to know how to say any symbol whether it’s just numbers or “@” (arobase). Then there’s learning how to type using un clavier AZERTY! Writing and sending emails…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":23404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23403","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vocabulary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t