Canadian French

Government & official French

The vocabulary you need to navigate bilingual government forms, healthcare documents, and official Canadian communications.

Common form fields

Federal and provincial government forms in Canada are issued in both English and French. These are the French terms you will encounter most often when filling out applications, registrations, and official paperwork.

	French term	English meaning
	Nom de famille	Last name / surname
	Prénom	First name / given name
	Date de naissance	Date of birth
	Lieu de naissance	Place of birth
	Numéro d'assurance sociale (NAS)	Social Insurance Number (SIN)
	Adresse	Address
	Code postal	Postal code
	Province / territoire	Province / territory
	Numéro de téléphone	Phone number
	Courriel	Email address
	Sexe / Genre	Sex / Gender
	État civil	Marital status
	Citoyenneté	Citizenship
	Statut d'immigration	Immigration status
	Signature du demandeur / de la demanderesse	Applicant's signature
	Date de la demande	Date of application
	Numéro de dossier	File / case number
	Pièces justificatives requises	Required supporting documents
	Cochez la case appropriée	Check the appropriate box
	À l'usage officiel seulement	For official use only
	Renseignements obligatoires	Required information
	Sans objet (S.O.)	Not applicable (N/A)
	Veuillez remplir en lettres moulées	Please print in block letters
	Ci-joint	Enclosed / attached herewith
	En foi de quoi	In witness whereof

État civil — common values: célibataire (single), marié(e) (married), divorcé(e) (divorced), séparé(e) (separated), veuf / veuve (widower / widow), conjoint(e) de fait (common-law partner).

Healthcare vocabulary

Each Canadian province administers its own health insurance plan. Quebec uses the RAMQ; Ontario uses OHIP. Knowing this vocabulary helps you book appointments, understand forms, and communicate with healthcare providers in French.

French	English	Notes
la carte d'assurance maladie	health insurance card	"Carte soleil" in Quebec
la RAMQ	Quebec health insurance authority	Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec
l'OHIP	Ontario Health Insurance Plan	Ontario's provincial health card program
le médecin de famille	family doctor / GP	Can be difficult to find: many Canadians are without one
l'urgence (f.)	emergency room	Also: la salle d'urgence
le rendez-vous	appointment	Prendre un rendez-vous = to book an appointment
l'ordonnance (f.)	prescription	Issued by a doctor; filled at a pharmacie
le médicament	medication / medicine	Plural: les médicaments
les soins de santé (m.pl.)	healthcare	Also: le système de santé
le CLSC	local community health centre	Centre local de services communautaires: Quebec only
les antécédents médicaux (m.pl.)	medical history	Required on most intake forms
l'assurance médicaments (f.)	drug insurance	Mandatory in Quebec; private or RAMQ-based
le formulaire de réclamation	claim form	Used for reimbursement of covered services

Tax vocabulary

Quebec residents file two separate tax returns: a federal return with the Canada Revenue Agency (ARC) and a provincial return with Revenu Québec. Other Canadians file only federally, with the CRA. Understanding these terms will help you read your slips and navigate tax software in French.

French	English	Context
la déclaration de revenus	tax return	Federal: T1 form; Quebec: TP-1 form
le revenu imposable	taxable income	After deductions and exemptions
le remboursement	tax refund	Issued when you overpaid during the year
la cotisation	contribution / assessment	Used for pension and EI contributions
les déductions (f.pl.)	deductions	Reduce taxable income (RRSP, childcare, etc.)
les crédits d'impôt (m.pl.)	tax credits	Reduce tax owed; some are refundable
le feuillet T4	T4 slip	Federal employment income statement from employer
le relevé 1 (RL-1)	Quebec employment income slip	Quebec equivalent of T4, issued by employer
l'Agence du revenu du Canada (ARC)	Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)	Federal tax authority
Revenu Québec	Quebec revenue agency	Administers both Quebec and federal tax in Quebec
l'assurance-emploi (AE)	Employment Insurance (EI)	Federal program; apply at Service Canada
le Régime de pensions du Canada (RPC)	Canada Pension Plan (CPP)	Federal retirement pension
le Régime de rentes du Québec (RRQ)	Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)	Quebec's equivalent of CPP
les prestations (f.pl.)	benefits	Includes EI, family benefits, pension payments

Quebec only: Quebec residents must file with both the ARC (federal) and Revenu Québec (provincial). All other provinces have their tax collected by the ARC, even for provincial purposes.

Key phrases on forms

These instruction phrases appear on government forms across Canada. Recognising them lets you follow directions correctly without needing to translate the entire document.

Common form instructions

Veuillez remplir en lettres moulées.

Please print in block letters.

Cochez la case appropriée.

Check the appropriate box.

Joindre les pièces justificatives.

Attach the supporting documents.

À l'usage officiel seulement.

For official use only.

Sans objet (S.O.)

Not applicable (N/A).

N.B. / Remarque:

Note: / Please note:

Signature requise.

Signature required.

Voir au verso.

See overleaf / See the reverse side.

Formal letter and email phrases

French formal correspondence follows strict conventions. Using the right opening and closing formula signals competence and respect. These phrases are expected in communications with government offices, professional services, and institutions across Canada.

Function	French phrase	English equivalent
Opening	Je me permets de vous écrire au sujet de...	I am writing to you regarding...
Purpose	Je vous contacte afin de...	I am contacting you in order to...
Enclosing	Veuillez trouver ci-joint...	Please find enclosed...
Requesting	Je vous saurais gré de bien vouloir...	I would be grateful if you could...
Following up	Suite à notre échange du [date]...	Following our exchange on [date]...
Acknowledging	J'accuse réception de votre lettre du...	I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated...
Closing (formal)	Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.	Yours faithfully / Sincerely (very formal)
Closing (semi-formal)	Dans l'attente de votre réponse, je vous adresse mes cordiales salutations.	Looking forward to your reply, kind regards.

Closing formulas matter: "Veuillez agréer... l'expression de mes salutations distinguées" is the most formal closing and is expected in government correspondence. For semi-formal contexts (a professional email, a follow-up letter), "Cordiales salutations" or "Bien cordialement" is appropriate. Never use "Bonne journée" as a letter closing in formal writing.

Put this vocabulary into practice

The Government & Official Documents unit walks through realistic form-filling, healthcare scenarios, and formal letter writing with guided exercises.

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