Shopping

French shopping phrases
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Les achats et courses

Once you learn the French names for shops and businesses – and the importance of saying bonjour – you just need to know what to say when faced with all that merchandise! Here are some useful phrases related to shopping in French.

Click a verb for its conjugations and any other word or phrase for the sound file.

Useful French shopping verbs

acheter   to buy
avoir   to have
chercher   to look for
dépenser   to spend
essayer   to try on
rendre   to return (an item)
trouver   to find
vendre   to sell
vouloir   to want

Let’s go shopping!

For necessities
  faire les / des courses   to go food shopping, run errands
For fun
  faire les / des achats   to go shopping
  faire les magasins      "   "
  faire du shopping      "   "
For free
  faire du lèche-vitrines   to window shop

What the clerk might say …

Je peux vous aider ?   May I help you?
Qu’est-ce que vous cherchez ?   What are you looking for?
Je vous écoute.   (Go ahead) I’m listening.
J’arrive. (lesson)   I’ll be right there/back
Quelle pointure (faites-vous) ?   What’s your shoe size?
Quelle taille (faites-vous) ?   What’s your (clothing) size?
C’est pour offrir ? (lesson)   Is it a gift?

What you might respond …

Je voudrais …
J’aimerais …
  I would like…
Combien coûte … ?   How much does … cost?
Avez-vous …?   Do you have …?
C’est
   trop grand
   trop petit
   parfait
  It’s …
   too big
   too small
   perfect
Je regarde seulement, merci.   I’m just looking, thanks.

Miscellanous French shopping terms

bon marché   (lesson)   inexpensive
un caddie   shopping cart (upright, pulled)
un chariot   shopping cart (pushed)
un échantillon   sample, tester
un sac   bag
les soldes   twice-annual sales (learn more)

À la caisse – At the register

payer en espèces
en liquide
  to pay cash
 
avec une carte with a credit card
avec des chèques de voyage with traveler’s checks
la monnaie   change (back from what you paid)
le reçu   receipt

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French shopping terms

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