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French phrases for asking a neighbour to take in a parcel in France

Knock and ask: “Vous pourriez prendre un colis pour moi ?”. Say when it’s due: “J'attends un colis aujourd'hui”. When you’re back, ring the bell and say “Je viens chercher un colis”, then thank them with “Merci d'avoir gardé mon colis”.

Try it · about two minutes

You’ll be out when a delivery is due, so you ask the neighbour across the landing to take it in.

Sound on: the neighbour speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

  1. Neighbour

    Vous avez besoin de quelque chose ?

    Do you need anything?

    You

    Vous pourriez prendre un colis pour moi ?

    Could you take a parcel for me?

  2. Neighbour

    Pas de souci.

    No worries.

    You

    J'attends un colis aujourd'hui.

    I’m expecting a parcel today.

  3. Neighbour

    D'accord. Je serai là toute la journée. Sonnez chez moi quand vous rentrez.

    All right. I’ll be here all day. Ring my bell when you’re back.

    You

    Merci pour votre aide.

    Thank you for your help.

  4. That evening, back from work, you ring your neighbour’s bell.

    You

    Je viens chercher un colis.

    I’m here to collect a parcel.

  5. Neighbour

    C'est votre colis ?

    Is this your parcel?

    You

    Merci d'avoir gardé mon colis.

    Thank you for keeping my parcel.

  6. Neighbour

    Je prendrai volontiers vos colis quand vous êtes absent.

    I’m happy to take your parcels when you’re away.

    You

    Oui, volontiers.

    Yes, gladly.

Which French phrases do you need?

  • Vous pourriez prendre un colis pour moi ?

    Could you take a parcel for me?

  • J'attends un colis aujourd'hui.

    I’m expecting a parcel today.

  • Vous avez un colis pour moi ?

    Do you have a parcel for me?

  • Je viens chercher un colis.

    I’m here to collect a parcel.

  • C'est votre colis ?

    Is this your parcel?

  • Merci d'avoir gardé mon colis.

    Thank you for keeping my parcel.

  • Le livreur a laissé un colis chez vous, je crois.

    I think the courier left a parcel with you.

  • Je prendrai volontiers vos colis quand vous êtes absent.

    I’m happy to take your parcels when you’re away.

  • J'ai trouvé un avis de passage dans ma boîte aux lettres.

    I found a delivery notice in my letterbox.

  • Laissez-le chez mon voisin, s'il vous plaît.

    Please leave it with my neighbour.

What is worth knowing in France?

How the favour goes

  1. 1

    Knock and ask if your neighbour can take a parcel for you.

    Could you take a parcel for me?
  2. 2

    Say when it’s due.

    I’m expecting a parcel today.
  3. 3

    When you’re back, ring their bell and collect it.

    I’m here to collect a parcel.
  4. 4

    Say thanks.

    Thank you for keeping my parcel.

Why ask a neighbour

If no one answers the door, the courier often leaves a notice (an avis de passage) and the parcel may go to a pickup point. A neighbour who takes it in saves you the trip.

J'ai trouvé un avis de passage dans ma boîte aux lettres.

I found a delivery notice in my letterbox.

Return the favour

Offer to take their parcels too. It’s the usual way to turn one favour into a good neighbourly habit.

Je prendrai volontiers vos colis quand vous êtes absent.

I’m happy to take your parcels when you’re away.

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?
“Vous pourriez prendre un colis pour moi ?” (Could you take a parcel for me); “J'attends un colis aujourd'hui.” (I’m expecting a parcel today); “Vous avez un colis pour moi ?” (Do you have a parcel for me). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?
Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?
Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

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Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.