Speaking Up in Meetings｜French Business Conversation
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Requesting a Quote in Business Settings｜French Business Conversation
Izumi
In business communication, it is common to request a quote (devis) before purchasing a product or using a service. Being able to express this properly in French allows you to make a polite and professional impression.
Here, I will explain useful French phrases and the underlying grammar for requesting a quote.
Contents
Dialogue
Bonjour, je voudrais demander un devis pour vos services.
（Hello, I would like to request a quote for your services）
Bien sûr. Pouvez-vous préciser de quel service il s’agit ?
（Of course. Could you specify which service it concerns?）
Oui, c’est pour la traduction de documents techniques.
（Yes, it is for the translation of technical documents.）
Très bien. Nous vous enverrons un devis détaillé d’ici demain.
（Very well. We will send you a detailed quote by tomorrow.）
Je vous remercie beaucoup.
（Thank you very much.）
Grammar and Expression Points
1. Basic Phrases for Requesting a Quote
In French, to “request a quote” is expressed as “demander un devis.”
- Je voudrais demander un devis.
(I would like to request a quote.)
Here, “Je voudrais …” (I would like …) is a polite and frequently used form for making requests. It sounds softer and more courteous than the direct “Je veux … ”(I want …).
- Je voudrais demander un devis pour vos services.
(I would like to request a quote for your services.) - Je voudrais recevoir un devis détaillé.
(I would like to receive a detailed quote.)
2. Asking “Could You Send Me a Quote?”
To phrase the request as “Could you send me …?”, use “Pouvez-vous … ?”
- Pouvez-vous m’envoyer un devis ?
(Could you send me a quote?)
“Pouvez-vous … ?” is a polite question meaning “Can you … ?” and is commonly used in business emails and face-to-face communication. Adding “s’il vous plaît” makes it even more formal.
3. Clarifying the Service or Content
When requesting a quote, it is important to clearly specify which service it concerns.
Useful expressions:
- Pouvez-vous préciser de quel service il s’agit ?
(Could you specify which service it is about?) - C’est pour la traduction de documents techniques.
(It is for the translation of technical documents.)
“Il s’agit de …” is a slightly formal phrase often used in written or business French. “C’est pour …”is simpler and more conversational.
4. Expressions for Sending a Quote
Responses from a service provider often include:
- Nous vous enverrons un devis. (We will send you a quote.)
- un devis détaillé (a detailed quote)
- d’ici demain (by tomorrow)
The construction “d’ici + time” is an important way to express deadlines:
- d’ici la fin de la semaine (by the end of the week)
- d’ici lundi prochain (by next Monday)
Summary
- un devis
→ a quote/estimate - Je voudrais demander un devis.
→ A standard, polite request - Pouvez-vous m’envoyer un devis ?
→ Convenient phrase for direct requests - C’est pour … / il s’agit de …
→ Expressions to clarify the subject of the request - d’ici …
→ Expression indicating a deadline (“by …”)
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