You’ve got a French voice over to produce — maybe for a corporate film, a commercial, or an explainer. It’s meant for France… but also for Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, or another French-speaking market.
So what exactly do you need?
A French voice over?
A Belgian French voice over?
A Swiss French voice over?
It’s a common question — and often a source of confusion.
Here’s how to know when a single French European voice over will do the job…
and when you’ll need to go local.
What is a French European voice over and how is it used?
Also known as:
Parisian French
Standard French
Or simply: neutral French
It’s the kind of French you’ll hear in media and advertising in France — without any strong regional accent.
It’s polished, widely understood, and works well in most international contexts.
🎙️Think of it as the equivalent of BBC English in the UK or General American in the US — clear, neutral, and broadly accepted.
As a native French voice actor, I’ve recorded voice overs for France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, francophone Africa and the DOM-TOM (French overseas territories), adapting delivery and vocabulary where needed.
Where to Use a French European Voice Over — France, Belgium, Switzerland?
✅ Belgium
French is one of Belgium’s three official languages, and a neutral French voice is commonly used in a wide range of professional content — from public broadcasts to branded communication.
🎧 Since 2015, I’ve been the station voice of LN Radio in Belgium — including frequency announcements adapted with “septante” (seventy) and “nonante” (ninety) when needed.
🎥 Example: for the brand Miele, I recorded two script versions: “tables de cuisson” (cooktops) for France, and “taques de cuisson” (Belgian term for cooktops) for Belgium.
✅ Switzerland
In Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, standard French is the norm. The only changes usually concern:
Currency (CHF instead of €)
A few Swiss-specific expressions
🎥 Example: I voiced the corporate film for Jaeger-LeCoultre, with a refined and elegant tone for a Swiss audience.
🧠 Fun detail: In the script, I say “cent huitante-neuf ans” (189 years) — a phrasing you wouldn’t hear in France.
✅ Luxembourg, Monaco & French overseas territories (DOM-TOM)
French is an official or administrative language in all three.
Between 2017 and 2020, I voiced Spotify ads for France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Monaco — adjusting only pricing and pronunciation where needed.
✅ Francophone Africa
In many parts of Africa, French is an official language — and neutral French is standard in media, advertising, and educational content.
🎧 Example: I’m the station voice of Ludikids, a children’s TV channel that’s part of the Canal+ Afrique package — with clear, accessible French suited for a pan-African audience.
✅ One voice, multiple markets
In many campaigns, a single voice can be used across multiple countries — with slight adaptations in wording or figures.
🎙️ For the Trivago 2025 summer campaign, I recorded one base version for France, Belgium, and Switzerland, adapting only prices, currencies, and a few expressions — such as “Fais voir” vs. “Prouve-le”.
This approach ensures brand consistency and saves time and budget
❌ When you shouldn’t use a French European voice: Québec
This is a crucial distinction: if your audience is in Québec, you’ll need a native Canadian French voice.
Québécois French differs significantly in:
Accent and intonation
Vocabulary and expressions
Cultural references
🎙️Using European French in Québec is like casting a French-accented English speaker for a US commercial: it may sound elegant, but not local.
👉 If your project targets Canada, especially Québec, I strongly recommend hiring a local Québécois voice actor.
🗨️ Language trivia: real French, different words
Even with a neutral accent, some words change dramatically between France, Belgium and Switzerland.
Here are a few I’ve personally come across in recording sessions:
| 🇫🇷 France | 🇧🇪 Belgium | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 🇬🇧 English equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| téléphone portable | GSM | natel | mobile phone |
| petit-déjeuner | déjeuner | déjeuner | breakfast |
| serpillère | torchon | panosse | floor cloth / mop |
| faire le ménage | faire l’entretien | faire le nettoyage | to clean the house |
| pluie | drache | drache | heavy rain / downpour |
🎧 I often record alternate versions of the same sentence to reflect these subtle but important vocabulary shifts — especially in advertising, explainer videos or public service messages.
Why choose a French European voice over for your international project?
Because it allows you to:
Reach several markets with one consistent voice
Avoid awkward mismatches in accent or tone
Adapt content quickly and efficiently
Keep production costs under control
🎙️ And if you’re not sure what your audience expects, I can help you choose the right approach — and even provide multiple versions in one recording session.
Conclusion: one voice, many countries
If your audience is in:
France
Belgium
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Monaco
Francophone Africa
The DOM-TOM (French overseas territories)
Then a French European voice over is not just acceptable — it’s often the smartest choice.
If you’re targeting Québec, go local.
Need help deciding which version of French fits best?
I’ll gladly advise you and bring clarity to your localization process.
🎧 You’ll find examples of my voice work on the Portfolio page.
📩 And if you’re ready to move forward, just reach out via the Contact page — I’ll be happy to help
