French terms used in France
French Postal & Administrative Glossary
French postal and administrative terms you encounter in France, explained in plain English.
A
AR (accusé de réception)
An AR (accusé de réception) is the receipt signed by the recipient and returned to the sender. Think of it as delivery confirmation attached to the letter. In France, formal cancellations and notices often use LRAR to document receipt as legal evidence.
C
Cedex / TSA
Cedex and TSA are French routing codes commonly used in business and institutional addresses. Think of them as a recipient’s internal postal route, not a missing street address. In France, these addresses can be valid without a street name, especially for cancellation departments, so copy the Cedex or TSA line exactly as written.
D
Delivery notice (avis de passage)
An avis de passage is the slip a postal worker leaves when a registered letter could not be handed over in person. Think of it as a collection ticket, not proof that you have already received the letter. In France, La Poste normally holds the item at the indicated post office for 15 days; collect it with ID or a procuration before it is returned to the sender.
E
Ecopli
Ecopli was La Poste’s former economy service, also known as the grey-stamp option. Think of it as the old low-cost ordinary-mail service. In France, it has not been sold since January 1, 2023; ordinary letters now generally use lettre verte.
Envelope (pli)
A pli is the French postal term for a document placed in an envelope. Think of it as the postal unit: the document inside its envelope. In France, La Poste documents and proof-of-posting records use this word; MaisonMail handles folding and stuffing.
F
Formal notice (Mise en demeure)
A mise en demeure is a formal demand to fulfil an obligation within a set deadline. Think of it as the written “last chance” before a dispute may move toward legal proceedings. In France, an individual can send one without a lawyer; LRAR is commonly used to establish the sending date and receipt, but the exact form depends on the legal context.
L
LRAR (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception)
LRAR means Lettre Recommandée avec Accusé de Réception: a registered letter with a signed receipt returned to the sender. Think of it as registered delivery plus a documented receipt. In France, it is commonly used for moving-out notices, contract cancellations and formal notices because it records the delivery date.
N
Notice period (Préavis)
A préavis is the legal or contractual countdown between notice and the effective end of a contract. Think of it as the time you must allow after announcing that you are leaving. In France, a rental notice is often one or three months depending on the property and location; the start date depends on the contract, law and notification method, usually receipt for registered mail.
P
Postal tracking (suivi)
Suivi is La Poste’s service for locating a letter in transit with a unique tracking number. Think of it as parcel tracking applied to a letter. In France, registered mail includes tracking, while ordinary mail needs a separate tracking option.
Postmark (cachet de la poste)
The cachet de la poste is the La Poste postmark showing the date a letter was sent. Think of it as the official dispatch timestamp stamped onto the envelope. In France, « le cachet de la poste faisant foi » means the postmark date, not the delivery date, is used for deadlines such as termination, notice periods and applications.
Postal proxy (procuration)
A procuration is an authorisation allowing someone you trust to collect registered mail on your behalf. Think of it as a postal power of attorney limited to collection. In France, it is arranged with La Poste and the proxy presents their own ID at the counter, which is useful when you cannot attend in person.
R
Registered letter (lettre recommandée)
A lettre recommandée is a registered letter delivered against signature, with proof of posting and delivery. Think of it as tracked, signature-required mail rather than ordinary post. In France, it is required for some procedures such as certain cancellations and recommended for others; AR is a separate option.
S
Security deposit (Dépôt de garantie)
A dépôt de garantie is the sum a tenant pays the landlord when moving in, refundable after the tenancy subject to permitted deductions. Think of it as a refundable security reserve, not the final month’s rent. In France, the maximum is one month’s rent for an unfurnished home and two months for a furnished home; it is distinct from a guarantor, called a caution.
T
Termination (Résiliation)
Résiliation is the formal early or scheduled end of a contract. Think of it as closing a subscription or service agreement through the procedure the contract or law requires. In France, phone, internet, gym and insurance cancellations may involve registered mail or an online process, with rules including Chatel and Hamon depending on the contract.
General information about postal services and common practices in France. Check the rules that apply to your specific procedure.