English Vocabulary – At the Post Office

Hey! Would you like to hear a joke?

An old woman took a package to the post office to mail and was told it would cost $3.95 for fast delivery or $2.30 for slower service.

“There is no hurry,” she told the clerk, “just so the package is delivered in my lifetime.”

He glanced at her and said, “That will be $3.95, please.”

The joke is funny as in the States, and most other countries, the postal system is known for being very slow.

Below, we have put together some vocabulary you will often hear at the post office. After reviewing the vocabulary, read the dialogue between a customer and a post office clerk to learn some common English phrases to use at the post office.

Post Office Vocabulary

Letter – a written or printed message to someone often sent by post.

Envelope – the rectangular paper cover in which you send a letter or card to someone by post.

Stamp – a small piece of paper that you buy and then stick to an envelope or package to pay for the cost of postage.

Parcel – a box that is usually given, sent, or delivered to a person. British people tend to refer to parcels whereas Americans refer to packages.

Scales – a device that is used for weighing people or things.

First-class postage – In the UK, first-class postage is the quicker and more expensive type of postage. In the USA, first-class postage is the type of postage that is used for sending letters and postcards. In the UK, when buying stamps, you will be asked if you want first class or second class stamps.

Correspondence – the activity of writing letters or emails to someone. Someone’s correspondence can also be the letters or emails that they receive or send.

Express (adjective) – delivered faster than usual for a higher price.

Delivery – the act of bringing something to a person or place. A delivery of something is the goods that are delivered.

Freight – goods that are transported by lorries, trains, ships or aeroplanes.

Junk mail – advertisements and other publicity that you receive through the post or by email which you have not asked for and which you do not want.

Mail – the system used for sending letters and packages from one person to another. In the UK, it is more common to say post. You can also refer to letters and parcels which are delivered to you as mail.

Mailbox (American English) – a box outside your house where letters are delivered; a dark blue public box in which letters and packages are placed to be collected, sorted and delivered.
In the UK people call the rectangular hole in a door or a small box at the entrance to a building into which letters and small parcels are delivered a letterbox and the red metal box in a public place, where you put letters and packets to be collected, sorted and delivered a postbox.

Overseas – in or to a foreign country that is usually across a sea or ocean.

Post office – a building where the mail for a local area is sent and received.

Postcard – a card on which a message may be sent by mail without an envelope and that often has a picture on one side. People tend to send postcards to their friends and family when they are on holiday.

Postmark – a mark placed over the stamp on a piece of mail that shows when the mail was sent and where it was sent from and that makes it impossible to use the stamp again.

Postmaster – a man who is in charge of a post office.

Returned – sent back to the sender or the post office.

To seal – to close (an envelope, bag, etc.) by sticking or pressing two of its parts together.

Recorded delivery – If you send a letter or parcel recorded delivery, you send it using a postal service which gives you an official record of the fact that it has been posted and delivered. In the US people say registered mail.

Zip code (American English) – a short sequence of letters and numbers at the end of your address which helps the post office to sort out the mail. In the UK people use the word postcode instead.

A Conversation at the Post Office

Woman – Good morning. I’d like an envelope and a stamp, please.

Clerk – First or second class?

Woman – First class. How much will it cost to send this letter to Brazil first class?

Clerk – Please put the envelope on the scales.

(The clerk weighs the letter)

Clerk – £3.25.

Woman – Thanks. Here you go.

(She gives him the money)

Clerk – It will arrive in two to three days. Please could you add the post code? Otherwise it might be returned.

Woman – Sure. It’s 13010-132.

Clerk – Ok then. Have a great day!

Woman – You too. Bye!