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Lesson 205 of 240

New here? This is lesson 205 of a free 240-lesson French course.

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Post office and bank in French

Sam has a small parcel for Lyon and a queue at La Poste. The clerk wants a form, and the wait feels longer than the train.

Later he asks to change some money at the same counter, and that is where ID comes in.

By the end, you'll send a parcel, check wait times, flag something fragile, and ask about a form or ID.

La Poste handles post and simple bank jobs, so the lines stay useful at both windows.

By the end of this lesson

Send a parcel, change money, or ask about a form and ID.

  • Je voudrais envoyer ce colis à Lyon.I'd like to send this parcel to Lyon.
  • Ça met combien de temps ?How long does it take?
  • C'est fragile, faites attention.It's fragile; please be careful.
  • Je voudrais changer de l'argent.I'd like to change some money.
  • Je dois remplir un formulaire ?Do I need to fill in a form?
  • Il me faut une pièce d'identité ?Do I need to bring ID?

Scene — the queue at La Poste

A weekday morning at La Poste near Oberkampf. Sam holds a small box for Lyon, taped a little too well.

The clerk waits behind the glass. A ticket machine sits to the side.

Sam is next in the queue. He already said hello in his head twice.

A wide morning view of the post office near Oberkampf, with Sam next in line holding a small over-taped box, a clerk waiting behind glass, and a ticket machine to the side.

Learn — send, wait, change, ID

Six lines cover a parcel to Lyon, how long it takes, a fragile warning, changing money, a form, and ID.

You'll hear them at a post or bank counter.

  1. Sam holds the small taped parcel out toward the clerk at the glass counter.

    Je voudrais envoyer ce colis à Lyon.

    I'd like to send this parcel to Lyon.

    When to use it: Say this at the post office when you have a parcel to send.

    Voudrais is a polite I'd like, softer than a firm I want.

    Say it: The s at the end of voudrais is silent.

  2. Sam leans toward the glass with a how-long gesture, a blank wall clock behind him.

    Ça met combien de temps ?

    How long does it take?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to know how long a service takes.

    Met here means it takes time, not that you put something down.

    Say it: The em in temps is a nasal sound.

  3. From above, Sam cradles the small box and sets it down with care while the clerk watches.

    C'est fragile, faites attention.

    It's fragile; please be careful.

    When to use it: Say this when a parcel can break and staff should handle it carefully.

    Faites is the vous form, so it fits a clerk, not a friend.

    Say it: The t at the end of faites links to attention as a t.

  4. Over Sam's shoulder, an open wallet and unmarked banknotes are offered toward the clerk behind the glass.

    Je voudrais changer de l'argent.

    I'd like to change some money.

    When to use it: Say this at a bank or post office when you want to exchange cash.

    De l'argent means some money, not one named amount.

    Say it: L'argent drops the e of le before a vowel.

  5. Sam stands in profile at the counter with a blank sheet and a pen, body turned toward the clerk.

    Je dois remplir un formulaire ?

    Do I need to fill in a form?

    When to use it: Ask this when you are not sure a form is required.

    A rising voice can turn this whole line into a yes-no question.

  6. Through the glass from the clerk's side, Sam holds out a blank identity card.

    Il me faut une pièce d'identité ?

    Do I need to bring ID?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need to know if ID is required.

    Il me faut means I need, and the thing needed comes after.

    Say it: D'identité drops the e of de before a vowel.

Story — the form takes longer

Watch Sam at La Poste with a parcel for Lyon. The clerk wants a form for the parcel, then ID at the bank window.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The ticket machine beeps. Sam steps up to the glass.
  2. ClerkBonjour.Hello.
  3. SamBonjour. Je voudrais envoyer ce colis à Lyon.Hello. I'd like to send this parcel to Lyon.
  4. ClerkD'accord. Pour Lyon, oui.Right. For Lyon, yes.
  5. SamÇa met combien de temps ?How long does it take?
  6. ClerkTrois jours, en général. C'est fragile ?Three days, usually. Is it fragile?
  7. SamC'est fragile, faites attention.It's fragile; please be careful.
  8. ClerkBon, je note. Un instant.Right, I'll note that. One moment.
  9. SamJe dois remplir un formulaire ?Do I need to fill in a form?
  10. ClerkOui. Un formulaire.Yes. A form.
  11. SamMerci beaucoup.Thank you very much.
  12. The form takes longer than the train to Lyon. Sam stays put.
  13. He moves to the bank window of the same office.
  14. ClerkBonjour. Vous désirez ?Hello. What would you like?
  15. SamJe voudrais changer de l'argent.I'd like to change some money.
  16. ClerkEn quelle monnaie ?Into which currency?
  17. SamEn dollars, s'il vous plaît.Into dollars, please.
  18. ClerkD'accord. Pour un change, il y a une formalité.Right. For a currency exchange, there is a formality.
  19. SamIl me faut une pièce d'identité ?Do I need to bring ID?
  20. ClerkOui, s'il vous plaît. Votre carte.Yes, please. Your card.

Practice — parcel or cash

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, build a line, and pick what to say at the glass.

They stay close to the counter, so the round stays useful.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    The clerk has just said hello. Greet her back; it is still morning at the counter.

  3. What does it mean?

    Ça met combien de temps ?

  4. Fill the gap

    It's fragile; please be careful.

    C'est ____, faites attention.

  5. What do you say?

    You are at the bank window of La Poste with cash you need to exchange.

  6. Build the line

    Do I need to fill in a form?

     ?

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Clerk says:

    Pour un colis, j'ai besoin de quelques documents.

    For a parcel, I need a few documents.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    Your parcel is for Lyon, not another city.

    Je voudrais envoyer ce colis à ____.

  9. True or false?

    You say this to thank the clerk after they help you.

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — at the glass

Now you're Sam at the glass. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. ClerkBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Say hello back. It is still morning.

    Bonjour.

    Hello

0 of 7 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Je voudrais envoyer ce colis à Lyon.I'd like to send this parcel to Lyon.
Ça met combien de temps ?How long does it take?
C'est fragile, faites attention.It's fragile; please be careful.
Je voudrais changer de l'argent.I'd like to change some money.
Je dois remplir un formulaire ?Do I need to fill in a form?
Il me faut une pièce d'identité ?Do I need to bring ID?
Next: lesson 206Taking a day off

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want these counter lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps the post office and bank lines ready.

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