Coffee-Machine Chat at a French Office
Get to know colleagues over coffee and lunch, talk about days off and wish people a good weekend the French way.
Small talk in a French office happens at the coffee machine and over lunch, which is often a proper sit-down break at the canteen or a nearby restaurant paid with titres-restaurant (meal vouchers). Whether colleagues say tu or vous depends on the company: start-ups use tu from day one, more traditional firms wait for someone to suggest it. Many full-time staff get RTT days, extra days off for working more than 35 hours a week, and May's bank holidays are prime time for long weekends.
- 1
On va prendre un café ?
Shall we go for a coffee?
- 2
Tu as passé un bon week-end ?
Did you have a good weekend? (to a colleague you say tu to)
- 3
On peut se tutoyer ?
Shall we say tu to each other?
- 4
Tu poses des jours en mai ?
Are you taking any days off in May?
- 5
Je prends un RTT vendredi.
I'm taking an RTT day on Friday.
- 6
La réunion a duré une éternité.
The meeting went on forever.
- 7
Je suis débordé en ce moment.
I'm snowed under at the moment.
- 8
Tu déjeunes où, d'habitude ?
Where do you usually have lunch?
- 9
On descend à la cantine ?
Shall we go down to the canteen?
- 10
On a des tickets-resto, ici ?
Do we get meal vouchers here?
- 11
Ça fait combien de temps que tu travailles ici ?
How long have you been working here?
- 12
Je viens d'arriver dans l'équipe marketing.
I've just joined the marketing team.
- 13
Tu bosses sur quoi en ce moment ?
What are you working on at the moment?
- 14
Tu es au courant pour le déménagement ?
Have you heard about the office move?
- 15
Je croise les doigts.
Fingers crossed.
- 16
Enfin vendredi !
Friday at last!
- 17
Tu as des projets pour les vacances ?
Any plans for the holidays?
- 18
Bon, au boulot !
Right, back to work!
- 19
Bon week-end, à lundi !
Have a good weekend, see you Monday!
- 20
Bon courage pour ta présentation !
Good luck with your presentation!