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B2 · 50 words
Trade and logistics in French
Order, warehouse, customs, supply chain — the words by which goods get from one place to another.
Practise this list
Ways to practise
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list Le connaissement is the one word on this list that an English reader cannot guess at, and the reason is that the two languages named the same document from opposite ends of the job it does. French built the word on connaître , to know, by way of connaissance , which in the older commercial language was a written acknowledgement: the carrier states that he knows he has these goods on board, and the paper that says so is le connaissement . Whoever holds it holds the cargo, which is the whole point of le connaissement prouve qui détient la marchandise . English named the same paper after the loading instead. A « bill of lading » is a list of what has been laded, from the verb « to lade », and that verb is otherwise dead: it survives in « laden », as in a fully laden lorry, and nowhere else in ordinary use. One language filed the document under knowing and the other under loading, so neither word can suggest the other, and this is the entry here that has to be learnt rather than worked out.
The words
View Compact With examples
Verb (3)
expédier to dispatch Verb B2 Nous expédions le jour même. We dispatch on the same day.
stocker to store Verb B2 On stocke les produits frais séparément. Fresh produce is stored separately.
acheminer to convey Verb B2 La marchandise est acheminée par rail. The goods are conveyed by rail.
Adjective (1)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes
périssable perishable Adjective B2 Les produits périssables voyagent au froid. Perishable goods travel refrigerated.
Phrase (3)
livrer en temps voulu to deliver on time Phrase B2 Ils livrent en temps voulu depuis dix ans. They have been delivering on time for ten years.
en rupture out of stock Phrase B2 L’article est en rupture jusqu’en mars. The item is out of stock until March.
à quai alongside the quay Phrase B2 Le navire est à quai depuis l’aube. The ship has been alongside the quay since dawn.
Noun (f) (17)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
la chaîne d’approvisionnement the supply chain Noun (f) B2 La chaîne d’approvisionnement s’est allongée. The supply chain has grown longer.
la commande the order Noun (f) B2 La commande a été passée hier soir. The order was placed last night.
l’expédition the dispatch Noun (f) B2 L’expédition part du dépôt de Lyon. The dispatch leaves from the depot in Lyon.
la rupture de stock the stock-out Noun (f) B2 La rupture de stock a duré un mois. The stock-out lasted a month.
la palette the pallet Noun (f) B2 La palette pèse presque une tonne. The pallet weighs almost a tonne.
la marchandise the goods Noun (f) B2 La marchandise voyage assurée. The goods travel insured.
la déclaration en douane the customs declaration Noun (f) B2 La déclaration en douane se fait par voie électronique. The customs declaration is made electronically.
l’importation the import Noun (f) B2 L’importation de ce bois est réglementée. The import of this timber is regulated.
l’exportation the export Noun (f) B2 L’exportation vers ce pays est suspendue. The export to that country has been suspended.
la facture proforma the pro forma invoice Noun (f) B2 La facture proforma accompagne l’envoi hors de l’Union. The pro forma invoice goes with any consignment leaving the Union.
l’avarie the transport damage Noun (f) B2 L’avarie porte sur trois palettes. The transport damage affects three pallets.
la lettre de réserve the letter of reservation Noun (f) B2 La lettre de réserve doit partir sous trois jours. The letter of reservation has to go out within three days.
la traçabilité the traceability Noun (f) B2 La traçabilité remonte jusqu’au champ. Traceability goes all the way back to the field.
la manutention the materials handling Noun (f) B2 La manutention se fait au chariot élévateur. Materials handling is done with a forklift truck.
l’assurance transport the transport insurance Noun (f) B2 L’assurance transport couvre aussi le vol. The transport insurance covers theft as well.
la logistique inverse the reverse logistics Noun (f) B2 La logistique inverse coûte souvent plus que la livraison. Reverse logistics often costs more than delivery.
la remise the discount Noun (f) B2 Une remise s’applique dès cent unités. A discount applies from a hundred units upwards.
Noun (m) (26)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
l’affréteur the charterer Noun (m) B2 L’affréteur fixe la date de mise à disposition. The charterer sets the date on which the goods are made available.
le grossiste the wholesaler Noun (m) B2 Le grossiste vend uniquement par palettes. The wholesaler sells by the pallet only.
le détaillant the retailer Noun (m) B2 Le détaillant fixe lui-même son prix. The retailer sets its own price.
le bon de commande the order form Noun (m) B2 Le bon de commande porte un numéro unique. The order form carries a unique number.
le délai de livraison the delivery time Noun (m) B2 Le délai de livraison est de dix jours ouvrés. The delivery time is ten working days.
l’entrepôt the warehouse Noun (m) B2 L’entrepôt est saturé avant les fêtes. The warehouse is full up before the holidays.
le stock disponible the available stock Noun (m) B2 Le stock disponible a fondu en trois jours. The available stock melted away in three days.
l’inventaire the stocktaking Noun (m) B2 L’inventaire se fait la nuit du trente et un. The stocktaking is done on the night of the thirty-first.
le carton d’expédition the shipping carton Noun (m) B2 Le carton d’expédition a été refusé à la réception. The shipping carton was refused on delivery.
le suremballage the outer packaging Noun (m) B2 Le suremballage doit résister au transport maritime. The outer packaging has to stand up to sea transport.
le transporteur the carrier Noun (m) B2 Le transporteur décline toute responsabilité. The carrier accepts no liability.
le fret the freight Noun (m) B2 Le fret aérien coûte cinq fois plus cher. Air freight costs five times as much.
le conteneur the container Noun (m) B2 Le conteneur est resté bloqué au port. The container was held up at the port.
le connaissement the bill of lading Noun (m) B2 Le connaissement prouve qui détient la marchandise. The bill of lading proves who holds the goods.
le dédouanement the customs clearance Noun (m) B2 Le dédouanement a pris deux jours de plus. Customs clearance took two days longer.
les droits de douane the customs duty Noun (m) B2 Les droits de douane sont dus à l’entrée. Customs duty falls due on entry.
le délai de paiement the payment period Noun (m) B2 Le délai de paiement tombe un dimanche. The payment period falls on a Sunday.
l’acompte the down payment Noun (m) B2 Un acompte de trente pour cent est demandé. A down payment of thirty per cent is required.
le retour the return of goods Noun (m) B2 Le retour est gratuit pendant quinze jours. The return of goods is free for fifteen days.
le code-barres the barcode Noun (m) B2 Le code-barres est illisible sur ce carton. The barcode is unreadable on this carton.
le chariot élévateur the forklift truck Noun (m) B2 Le chariot élévateur ne passe pas dans cette allée. The forklift truck will not go down this aisle.
le quai de chargement the loading bay Noun (m) B2 Le quai de chargement est occupé jusqu’à midi. The loading bay is taken until midday.
le transitaire the freight forwarder Noun (m) B2 Le transitaire organise tout le trajet. The freight forwarder arranges the whole journey.
le flux tendu the just-in-time supply Noun (m) B2 Le flux tendu ne pardonne aucun retard. Just-in-time supply forgives no delay.
l’approvisionnement the procurement Noun (m) B2 L’approvisionnement dépend d’un seul port. Procurement depends on a single port.
le prestataire logistique the logistics provider Noun (m) B2 Le prestataire logistique gère aussi les retours. The logistics provider handles the returns too.
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