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French Phrase

Le colis est arrivé hier.

/lə kɔ.li ɛ a.ʁi.ve jɛʁ/
Meaning"The package arrived yesterday."
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Meaning

This sentence means 'The package arrived yesterday.' It states that a delivery or parcel was received on the previous day. The verb 'arriver' uses the auxiliary 'être' in the passé composé, so the past participle agrees with the subject.

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When to use

Use this phrase when informing someone that a parcel you were expecting has been delivered, for example in a conversation with a friend, a colleague, or a customer service representative.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Lecolisestarrivéhier

1

Definite article (Le)

Le is the masculine singular definite article used before a masculine noun like 'colis'.

2

Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb 'être' (est) agrees with the singular masculine subject 'le colis'.

3

Past participle agreement

With the auxiliary 'être', the past participle 'arrivé' agrees in gender and number with the subject, adding an -e for masculine singular (no change).

4

Adverb of time (hier)

Hier means 'yesterday' and is placed at the end of the sentence for emphasis.

🗨In Conversation

A

Le colis est arrivé hier.

The package arrived yesterday.

Super, je vais le vérifier tout de suite.

Great, I'll check it right away.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Le colis a arrivé hier.

    The verb 'arriver' uses 'être' as its auxiliary, not 'avoir'.

  • Le colis sont arrivés hier.

    The subject 'le colis' is singular, so the verb must be singular.

  • La boîte est arrivé hier.

    If the subject were feminine, the past participle would need an extra -e (arrivée).

↔Alternatives

  • Le paquet est arrivé hier.

    The parcel arrived yesterday.

  • Le colis est arrivé hier soir.

    The package arrived last night.

  • Le colis a été livré hier.

    The package was delivered yesterday.

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Cultural Tip

In French, 'colis' refers specifically to a parcel or package, often used in the context of postal or courier services. When speaking about deliveries, it's common to mention the exact time (e.g., 'hier soir') for clarity. The passé composé with 'être' is required for verbs of movement like 'arriver', and the past participle must agree with the subject's gender and number.