French Phrase
On te facture des frais de retard si tu paies après le 5.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that a late‑payment surcharge will be added if the bill is settled after the fifth day of the month. It combines an impersonal subject with a direct address (te) and a conditional clause.
When to use
Use this phrase in any business or administrative context where you need to remind a client or a tenant about the consequences of paying after the deadline – for example, rent notices, utility bills, or subscription invoices.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ontefacturedesfraisderetardsitupaiesaprèsle5
Impersonal "On"
"On" is used like the English "we" or "one" and often replaces "nous" in spoken French.
Object pronoun "te"
"te" is the second‑person singular indirect object pronoun, indicating that the action (facturer) is directed at you.
Verb "facturer"
"Facturer" means “to charge” and is conjugated here in the present indicative: on facture.
Partitive article "des"
"Des" introduces an indefinite plural noun (frais) – “some fees”.
Conditional clause with "si"
"Si" introduces a condition; the verb in the si‑clause stays in the present tense (tu paies).
Preposition "après" + date
When a specific day of the month is mentioned, use the cardinal number without an article: "après le 5" = after the 5th.
🗨In Conversation
Quand dois‑je régler la facture ?
When should I pay the bill?
On te facture des frais de retard si tu paies après le 5.
We’ll charge you a late fee if you pay after the 5th.
✕Common Mistakes
On te facture des frais de retard si tu paie après le 5.
The verb "payer" must be conjugated as "paies" for the second‑person singular present.
On te facture des frais de retard si tu paies après le cinq.
When referring to a day of the month, use the numeral (5) or the cardinal word without an article: "après le 5".
Te facturent des frais de retard si tu paies après le 5.
"Facturer" agrees with the subject "on", not with "te"; the correct form is "on te facture".
↔Alternatives
Des frais de retard seront appliqués si tu paies après le 5.
Late fees will be applied if you pay after the 5th.
Si tu règles après le 5, des frais de retard seront ajoutés.
If you settle after the 5th, a late fee will be added.
Nous facturons des frais de retard pour tout paiement après le 5.
We invoice a late fee for any payment after the 5th.
Cultural Tip
In France, it’s common for contracts to specify a grace period (often the 5th of the month) before late‑payment penalties apply. Using "on" makes the statement sound less formal than "nous", which fits everyday business communication. Remember that the numeral is usually written as a digit in written French, but spoken as the cardinal number (cinq).