#225 Switching to Another Topic in a Meeting｜French Business Phrases

During meetings, discussions, or work-related conversations, you may often feel the need to move on to another point or switch to a new topic.

In such situations, it is important to use introductory or cushioning expressions to make the transition smooth and natural.

In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for switching topics in a meeting.

Dialogue

A

Le projet avance bien, mais il reste encore quelques points à régler.
（The project is progressing well, but there are still a few points to finalize.）

B

D’accord, merci pour ces précisions.
（I see. Thank you for the clarification.）

A

Au fait, j’aimerais vous poser une question concernant la réunion de demain.
（By the way, I would like to ask you a question regarding tomorrow’s meeting.）

B

Bien sûr, je vous écoute.
（Of course, I am listening.）

A

Est-ce que l’horaire a été confirmé ?
（Has the meeting time been confirmed?）

B

Oui, la réunion est prévue à 10 heures.
（Yes, the meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m.）

1. Signaling a Topic Change

When you want to change the topic, I recommend adding a signal rather than suddenly introducing a new subject. This helps make the transition more natural.

The expression “au fait” is used to insert a new topic into the flow of conversation. It typically appears at the beginning of a sentence and functions as a transition marker.

In addition to “au fait,” there are several other expressions used for topic shifts in French, each with a slightly different nuance:

The expression “À propos” functions similarly to “au fait” and is often used to introduce a related topic.

On the other hand, “D’ailleurs” is closer to adding supplementary information rather than introducing a completely new topic. It is often used to add a brief comment or additional detail.

2. Introducing the New Topic Clearly

After signaling the topic change, it is important to clearly state what you would like to talk about. This allows the other person to recognize the shift in topic immediately.

Here, “j’aimerais” is the conditional form of “aimer” and expresses a more polite and indirect request.

If you simply say “je veux”, it can sound more direct and, depending on the context, slightly too strong in a business setting.

By contrast, “j’aimerais” carries a softer nuance, similar to “if possible” or “if you don’t mind,” making it more appropriate in professional communication.

The word “concernant” means “regarding” or “concerning” and is used to clearly indicate the topic being discussed. By adding “la réunion de demain,” you specify exactly what your question is about.

Using “concernant” helps clarify the subject and prevents the topic shift from sounding abrupt.

3. Continuing the Conversation Smoothly

Once you have introduced the new topic, it is important to continue the conversation in a way that makes it easy for the other person to respond.

The phrase “a été confirmé” is the passive form (être + past participle) used in the past tense.

By using the passive voice, the focus is placed not on who confirmed the schedule, but on the fact that it has been confirmed.

As you can see, the passive form presents the information in a more objective and neutral way. This is particularly useful in business contexts such as meetings, schedules, documents, and procedures.

Another important point is that this is a closed question (yes/no question), which makes it easier for the listener to respond.

If you ask a complex question immediately after changing the topic, it may place a burden on the listener. By using a simple yes/no question, you can maintain a smooth and natural flow in the conversation.

Summary