Last updated on June 25th, 2026 at 11:46 pm
If you do business in French, you know that meetings can be challenging. The best way to run a successful meeting is to learn the common expressions and useful vocabulary in advance. Here is our advice to prepare a meeting in French and lead it with confidence. Practising your business French is the key.
The essentials
- Learn the key meeting vocabulary: ordre du jour, tour de table, pour/contre.
- Send the agenda in advance and prepare phrases for each stage of the meeting.
- Have ready-made phrases to give your opinion, agree, disagree and ask questions.
- Practising your business French is what builds confidence.
Before the meeting
It is common practice to send a meeting invitation (un avis de convocation) and the agenda (un ordre du jour) to the participants. Attendance can be optional (facultative) or compulsory (obligatoire). The agenda items are usually listed in a concise way, for example: Communication interne, Communication externe, Votation.
| French term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| un avis de convocation | a meeting invitation |
| un ordre du jour | the agenda (list of points to discuss) |
| facultative / obligatoire | optional / compulsory attendance |
| un tour de table | a round where each person speaks in turn |
During the meeting: key moments
| Moment | What to say in French |
|---|---|
| Getting started | « Passons à l’ordre du jour », « Le premier point de l’ordre du jour concerne… » |
| Giving the floor | « Je passe / je donne la parole à… » |
| Voting | « pour » / « contre » ; « Si la majorité est pour, la résolution peut être adoptée » |
| Concluding | Thank the participants and schedule a follow-up meeting |
Useful French phrases for meetings
| Function | French phrases |
|---|---|
| Give your opinion | Je pense que… / Je crois que… / Je trouve que… / J’ai l’impression que… / Selon moi… / Pour moi… |
| Agree | Bien sûr ! / Évidemment / Vous avez (entièrement) raison |
| Disagree | Je ne suis absolument pas d’accord / Vous avez tort / Ce n’est pas exactement mon avis |
| Ask for an opinion | Qu’en pensez-vous ? / Pouvez-vous me donner votre avis ? / Comment voyez-vous les choses ? |
| If you are interrupted | Laissez-moi finir, s’il vous plaît / Un instant, s’il vous plaît / Je voudrais ajouter que… |
| Check understanding | Que voulez-vous dire par là ? / Pouvez-vous préciser ? / Je ne suis pas certain de vous avoir bien compris |
Tip: pick two or three phrases per category and rehearse them out loud before your meeting. Having them ready frees your attention for the discussion itself.
Going further
You do not have to prepare alone. Build your confidence with a native French teacher in online lessons over Zoom, or follow our business French course to practise real meeting situations. You can start with a free trial lesson and assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How do you prepare a business meeting in French?
Learn the key vocabulary (ordre du jour, tour de table), send the agenda in advance, and prepare phrases to give your opinion, agree, disagree and ask questions.
What is an ordre du jour?
It is the meeting agenda: the list of points to be discussed, usually sent to participants beforehand.
How do you give your opinion in a French meeting?
With phrases like « Je pense que… », « Selon moi… » or « J’ai l’impression que… ».
How do you disagree politely in French?
« Ce n’est pas exactement mon avis » is softer than « Vous avez tort ». Stay courteous and explain your reasoning.
How can I feel more confident in French meetings?
Practise with a native teacher who simulates real meetings and corrects your business French.
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