You’re typing a message, about to send it, and then a doubt creeps in as you write the subject line: should you use “email,” “e-mail” or “courriel”? This uncertainty crops up in most professional communications. The spelling of this word varies across dictionaries, French-speaking countries and registers.
Why the hyphen in e-mail is a point of debate in French
The word comes from the English “electronic mail,” shortened to “e-mail” with a hyphen. In English, the hyphen has gradually disappeared: the unhyphenated form “email” is now dominant in the press and Anglo-Saxon style guides.
French has adopted both spellings. Larousse lists the entry “e-mail” with a hyphen. The form “email” without a hyphen has become established in everyday usage, particularly in digital interfaces and online forms.
To understand the difference between email and e-mail, remember that both spellings refer to the same thing. Neither is incorrect. The choice depends on register, not grammar.
Courriel, email, mail: three terms for electronic mail
A common pitfall is to assume that “mail,” “email” and “courriel” are interchangeable in every context. Each has its own sphere of use.
- “Courriel” is the recommended form of France’s General Commission for Terminology and is widely used in Quebec. It is used in official texts, administrative documents and formal correspondence.
- “Email” (or “e-mail”) remains an accepted anglicism in everyday usage, and is dominant in informal exchanges, marketing and software interfaces.
- “Mail” on its own is the most common form in spoken French in France. It does not appear in official recommendations, but most French speakers use it every day without a second thought.
Have you noticed that online forms almost always display “email” or “e-mail,” never “courriel”? That’s an interface choice, not a linguistic one. Developers follow English-language conventions out of habit.
Official spelling for electronic mail in France and Quebec
The distinction between a terminology recommendation and a spelling mistake deserves to be made clear. Writing “email” is not a mistake in French. It is a borrowing from English, like “parking” or “week-end.”
However, in an official French document (a report or an administrative memo), “courriel” remains the recommended term. This recommendation is published in the Official Journal. It applies to regulatory texts, not conversations between colleagues.
The situation is different in Quebec. “Courriel” is the standard term there in everyday life, not just in official texts. A Quebecer reading “email” in a French-language document will see it as a marked anglicism, whereas a French reader may not even notice it.
Choose the term to suit your audience
For a text aimed at an international French-speaking audience, “courriel” avoids any ambiguity. For a blog post or newsletter in France, “email” works perfectly well.
Why does this choice matter? A Quebec reader may see “email” as careless, while a French reader may find “courriel” slightly bureaucratic. The right term depends on the recipient, not the dictionary.
Message or messaging service: a distinction worth making
Another point is worth noting. “Courriel” and “email” refer to the message itself—the one you write and send. The system used to receive and organize these messages is called an electronic messaging service.
Saying “I’m opening my courriel” to refer to your inbox is a common shorthand, but technically imprecise. You open your messaging service and read an email.
This distinction is useful in professional writing:
- “Send me an email” refers to a message.
- “Check your electronic messaging service” refers to the tool.
- “Electronic mail address” (or “email address”) refers to the technical identifier, not the message.
In a user guide or training document, mixing up the two can cause confusion. In an informal exchange, no one will call you out on it.
Which spelling should you use in professional writing?
The choice comes down to three simple criteria. First, register: an annual report or internal policy document is better off using “courriel.” A marketing campaign or web form works perfectly well with “email.”
Next, consider your audience: for a text read in France, Quebec and Belgium, “courriel” or “courrier électronique” is more neutral. A text intended solely for France can use “email” without any problem.
Consistency matters more than the choice itself. A document that switches between “e-mail,” “email” and “courriel” gives an impression of uncertainty. Choosing one term and sticking with it throughout the text is best practice.
In short, none of these spellings is incorrect. Larousse accepts “e-mail,” usage has established “email,” and official French recommendations favor “courriel.” The key is to be consistent within a document.
