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Vocabulary and expressions · level B1 to C1 · 9 min

Choosing the right word for the register

French often has three words for the same thing: an informal word, a neutral word and a formal word. None of them is wrong, but each has its place. The lesson on audience and register teaches you to choose between « tu » and « vous » and how to open and close a message. This one goes further: it is about the vocabulary itself, word by word.

TL;DR

  • French often has an informal, a neutral and a formal word for the same thing.
  • « Bagnole », « voiture », « véhicule »: choose the word that fits the reader and the task.
  • One informal word like « boulot » breaks the register of a formal letter.

Goal: Choose, among several synonyms, the word that suits the reader and the task, and keep the same register from start to finish.

Three levels of language

  • Informal (« familier »): between friends, with family, in relaxed speech. In writing, only in a message to someone close.
  • Neutral (« courant »): everyday French, correct everywhere. It is the default register.
  • Formal (« soutenu »): official letters, articles, argumentative texts. It shows rich vocabulary, as long as it stays natural.

In the TCF, register counts in the sociolinguistic criterion: adapting your language to the situation and the reader.

Nouns in three registers

InformalNeutralFormal
une bagnoleune voitureun véhicule
le boulotle travaill'emploi, le poste
le fricl'argentles fonds, les ressources
un bouquinun livreun ouvrage
un flicun policierun agent de police
la bouffela nourriturel'alimentation

Message to a friend: « J'ai enfin trouvé un boulot, je commence lundi ! »

Letter to an agency: « Je suis à la recherche d'un emploi dans la logistique. »

More precise verbs

Very frequent verbs (« faire », « dire », « avoir », « mettre », « voir ») are correct, but they make a formal text sound poor. Replace them with a more precise verb when the task calls for it.

Common verbMore preciseExample
faire une démarcheeffectuer une démarche« J'ai effectué ma demande en ligne. »
direaffirmer, souligner, préciser« L'auteur souligne que… »
avoirposséder, disposer de« La ville dispose de trois piscines. »
voirconstater, observer« On constate une hausse des loyers. »
bosser (familier)travailler« Je travaille de nuit cette semaine. »

In the TCF: which register for which task?

The instructions always tell you, through the reader and the type of text. Here are some guidelines for the TCF Canada and TCF Québec writing test.

  • Task 1, message to a friend: neutral, with a few well-chosen informal words. To a neighbour or a manager: neutral and polite.
  • Task 2, text for several readers: neutral, with no informal words.
  • Task 3, comparing two opinions: neutral to formal. This is the task where precise verbs like « souligner » or « constater » make the difference.

Task 1: « Tu devrais venir, le resto est super et pas cher du tout. »

Task 3: « Le premier auteur souligne le coût élevé du projet, tandis que le second met en avant ses bénéfices à long terme. »

Two traps to avoid

  • Mixing: a single informal word in a formal letter stands out immediately. Reread and look for the words from the left column of the table.
  • Overdoing it: a text that is too formal, full of rare words used wrongly, sounds artificial. A correct neutral word is better than a wrong formal word.

Avoid in a letter to a landlord: « Le chauffage est en panne, c'est galère. »

Better: « Le chauffage est en panne, ce qui rend le logement difficile à vivre. »

A common mistake

✗ Madame, je vous écris car mon boulot ne me laisse pas le temps de passer à l'agence.

✓ Madame, je vous écris car mon travail ne me laisse pas le temps de passer à l'agence.

« Boulot » is informal. In a letter that begins with « Madame », the whole text must stay neutral or formal: a single informal word breaks the register.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a word is informal?+
Dictionaries mark it « familier » or « fam. ». In our dictionary, informal or vulgar words carry a usage note with the equivalent to use in the exam.
Can I use « boulot » or « bagnole » in the exam?+
Not in formal writing or with the examiner: say « travail » and « voiture ». In writing Task 1, a message to a friend can accept a more relaxed tone, but without going too far.
Is the formal register always the best choice?+
No. The sociolinguistic criterion assesses how well you adapt to the situation: a message to a friend written like an administrative letter is as awkward as a complaint written in informal language.
« Ça » or « cela » in writing?+
« Ça » is common in speech and in a friendly message. In a formal or argumentative text, prefer « cela »: « Cela montre que le projet est utile. »

Practice exercise with answers

1. You are writing to the town hall. Which word should you choose? « Je souhaite garer mon … devant l'école le temps du déménagement. »

2. Which sentence best suits Task 3 (comparing two opinions)?

3. Which verb best replaces « voir » in: « On voit une baisse du nombre de voitures en ville »?

4. A message to your friend Karim inviting him to a concert. Which sentence sounds right?

Next step

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