To leave a message in French, identify yourself, say why you are calling and give the listener a clear way to call you back. If a particular time matters, add it before ending the message.
Start with Parle’s complete short model below. Then expand the task with a reason and callback details. The short recording uses tu between Luc and Paul. The longer companion is written practice using vous. The recorded greeting addresses any caller with vous; Luc’s request uses tu to address Paul as a familiar person.
Practise the caller’s short message before adding details
Open the recorded greeting first. Hear or read each whole model, then close the caller’s three models. Imagine that Paul has not answered. Give yourself about eight quiet seconds to say who you are, request a callback and end the message; take longer if you need it.
These complete first-party French references were generated through the OpenAI speech service. The voices are synthetic and the original files are unchanged. This guide was prepared with AI assistance. Native Pause keeps your place; closing a model stops and rewinds it. Starting another stops the previous audio.
Hear Paul’s recorded voicemail greeting
Recorded greeting
Bonjour, vous êtes sur le répondeur de Paul.
Hello, you've reached Paul's voicemail.
Reveal the caller’s introduction after your attempt
Luc, the caller
Bonjour Paul, c'est Luc.
Hello Paul, it's Luc.
Reveal the callback request after your attempt
Rappelle-moi s'il te plaît.
Call me back please.
Reveal the caller’s closing after your attempt
Merci, au revoir.
Thank you, goodbye.
Compare who called with who is asked to call back
Luc has left the message on Paul’s voicemail. In Rappelle-moi, moi points to Luc, the speaker. Paul is being asked to return the call. Larousse’s telephone definition of rappeler describes calling again or returning someone’s call.
Use the caller’s words to identify the request.
The choice checks your understanding of this request. The webpage does not assess your spoken reply.
To practise a formal request, say Pourriez-vous me rappeler ? — “Could you call me back?” Keep the person being asked and the person requesting the call clear as you change names.
Build a fuller written message with callback details
The original Luc model is a short familiar request. It gives no reason, phone number or callback time. When someone needs those details, include them in your own message.
The OQLF guidance on leaving a voicemail recommends a concise message with identification, purpose and contact details. A suitable time can help when the caller is easier to reach then. Its message-taking guidance also recommends checking details and repeating information that could have been misheard.
Choose a fictional caller, a reason and a callback window. Use the supplied course practice number. Try a complete French message aloud before revealing one possible version. The new caller names, reasons and time windows below are written examples.
Course practice number: 06 12 34 56 78.
Choose all three details, then say your own message before revealing.
Read a complete written example without using the builder
Bonjour, c'est Nadia. J'appelle au sujet du retrait de mon vélo. Vous pouvez me rappeler au 06 12 34 56 78 entre seize et dix-huit heures. Merci, au revoir.
Hello, it's Nadia. I'm calling about picking up my bicycle. You can call me back at 06 12 34 56 78 between four and six p.m. Thank you, goodbye.
Changing a choice hides the old version. The generated example checks the selected practice details; it does not verify a real callback, assess speech or create a recording.
Read the course practice number in five pairs
This fifth player is a separate complete number model from Parle’s “Phone number” task. It was not part of Luc’s original voicemail. It uses the same practice digits as the written companion.
Hear the complete original practice number
C'est le zéro six, douze, trente-quatre, cinquante-six, soixante-dix-huit.
It is zero six, twelve, thirty-four, fifty-six, seventy-eight.
Use the numbers and time unit when reading the digits or clock needs another round. For spelling a caller’s name, continue with the French alphabet guide.
Hide the example and leave the message in your own words
After trying a built message, hide it and keep only the practice details in view. Say your name, reason and callback details again. A partner can check whether those details match your selections. If you record yourself independently, listen back for the names and digits you intended to say.
Entre seize et dix-huit heures gives a window between four and six p.m. Après dix-huit heures means after six p.m. Changing one word changes when the caller can be reached. Keep the chosen window consistent throughout your message.
For a second round, change only the reason or the window. Keep vous in this formal companion message. Return to tu when practising Luc’s original familiar request.
Continue with the original App voicemail task
The website’s Leave a message role-play asks you to leave a short message when Paul does not answer. In Parle on iPhone or iPad, use Course → A2.1 → Phone and digital life → Leave a message.
That current task is the original short Luc–Paul model. The fuller message builder is a website extension. Phone and digital life is Premium. All 35 Sounds and the first four First Contact missions are free; Premium opens the current 120-mission App course.
Parle lets you record and replay attempts. Phrase Match reports recognized model words; it does not evaluate whether a real message has been passed on, verify that someone has called back or score your accent.