French Phrase
C'est du courrier international.
Meaning
The sentence states that the item being discussed is international mail – a letter, parcel, or document that originates from or is destined for a foreign country.
When to use
Use this phrase when you receive a piece of mail from abroad, when a postal worker asks about the type of mail, or when you need to explain that a correspondence is not domestic.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estducourrierinternational
C'est
Contraction of "ce" (this/it) + "est" (is). Used to identify or describe something.
du (de + le)
Partitive article used before uncountable nouns or mass nouns to mean "some" or "a piece of".
Adjective placement
Most adjectives, including "international", follow the noun they modify.
🗨In Conversation
Quel type de courrier avez-vous reçu ?
What kind of mail did you receive?
C'est du courrier international.
It's international mail.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est de courrier international.
The partitive article must be "du" (de + le), not just "de".
C'est le courrier international.
"Le" would refer to a specific known piece of mail, not a generic type.
C'est du courriers international.
"Courrier" is singular here; the adjective must agree in number and gender.
↔Alternatives
Il s'agit d'un courrier international.
It is an international mail.
C'est du courrier provenant de l'étranger.
It's mail coming from abroad.
C'est du courrier étranger.
It's foreign mail.
Cultural Tip
In France, "courrier" covers letters, parcels, and official documents. International mail often requires a customs declaration, and the phrase is neutral – you can use it with postal workers, friends, or in formal contexts. Avoid using "mail" (the English loanword) in formal French; stick with "courrier".