Shopping in France is a unique experience that requires specific language skills. From greeting shopkeepers to asking about sizes and colors, knowing the right phrases can make your retail adventure smoother and more enjoyable.
This guide covers essential expressions for navigating French stores, trying on clothes, and making purchases. You'll learn how to ask for help, express preferences, and handle transactions confidently in French. These skills are crucial for a successful shopping trip in France.
Basic French Shopping Conversations
Greetings and Expressions
- Common greetings and expressions used in a French shopping context include "Bonjour" (Hello), "Au revoir" (Goodbye), "S'il vous plaît" (Please), and "Merci" (Thank you)
- To ask for assistance, use phrases such as "Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m'aider ?" (Excuse me, can you help me?) or "Je cherche..." (I'm looking for...)
- When making a purchase, use expressions like "Je voudrais acheter..." (I would like to buy...) or "Je vais prendre..." (I will take...)
- To inquire about the price of an item, ask "Combien coûte... ?" (How much does... cost?) or "Quel est le prix de... ?" (What is the price of...?)
- To ask if a store accepts credit cards, use the phrase "Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit ?" (Do you accept credit cards?)
Navigating a French Store
- Familiarize yourself with common store sections, such as "vêtements pour femmes/hommes" (women's/men's clothing), "chaussures" (shoes), "accessoires" (accessories), and "soldes" (sales)
- To ask where a specific item or section is located, use the phrase "Où puis-je trouver... ?" (Where can I find...?) or "Pouvez-vous me dire où se trouve... ?" (Can you tell me where... is located?)
- When trying on clothing, use the phrases "Je voudrais essayer cette/ce..." (I would like to try this...) and "Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?" (Where are the fitting rooms?)
- To indicate that you will take an item, say "Je vais prendre cette/ce..." (I will take this...)
- When ready to make a purchase, use the phrase "Je voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît" (I would like to pay, please) or simply "Je vais payer" (I will pay)
Asking for Specific Clothing Items
Sizes and Colors
- To ask for a specific size, use the phrase "Avez-vous cette... en taille... ?" (Do you have this... in size...?), followed by the appropriate size (petit, moyen, grand, très grand)
- To inquire about available colors, ask "Quelles sont les couleurs disponibles ?" (What colors are available?) or "Avez-vous cette... en... ?" (Do you have this... in...?), followed by the desired color (rouge, bleu, vert, jaune)
- When asking for a specific style, use the phrase "Je cherche un/une... de style..." (I'm looking for a... in... style), followed by the style description (classique, décontracté, élégant)
- To ask if an item comes in a different material, use the phrase "Est-ce que cette... est disponible en... ?" (Is this... available in...?), followed by the material (coton, soie, laine)
Trying on and Purchasing Items
- When trying on clothing, ask "Puis-je essayer ceci ?" (Can I try this on?) or "Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?" (Where are the fitting rooms?)
- If an item doesn't fit well, say "C'est trop petit/grand" (It's too small/big) or "Ça ne me va pas" (It doesn't suit me)
- To indicate that you will take an item, say "Je vais prendre cette/ce..." (I will take this...) or "Je voudrais acheter ceci" (I would like to buy this)
- When ready to make a purchase, use the phrase "Je voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît" (I would like to pay, please) or simply "Je vais payer" (I will pay)
Expressing Preferences for Clothing
Positive Opinions
- To express a positive opinion about an item, use phrases like "J'aime beaucoup cette/ce..." (I really like this...), "Cette/Ce... est très joli(e)" (This... is very pretty), or "Cette/Ce... me plaît" (This... pleases me)
- When expressing a preference between two items, use the phrase "Je préfère cette/ce... à celle-ci/celui-ci" (I prefer this... to this one)
- To state that an item suits someone well, use the expression "Cette/Ce... vous va très bien" (This... looks very good on you)
- Other positive phrases include "C'est exactement ce que je cherchais" (This is exactly what I was looking for) and "Cette/Ce... est parfait(e)" (This... is perfect)
Negative Opinions
- To express a negative opinion, use phrases such as "Je n'aime pas trop cette/ce..." (I don't really like this...), "Cette/Ce... n'est pas mon style" (This... is not my style), or "Je ne suis pas convaincu(e) par cette/ce..." (I'm not convinced by this...)
- If an item doesn't fit well or suit your taste, say "Ça ne me va pas" (It doesn't suit me) or "Ce n'est pas ce que je recherche" (This isn't what I'm looking for)
- Other negative phrases include "Je trouve cette/ce... un peu trop..." (I find this... a bit too...) followed by an adjective (cher, voyant, simple) and "Je ne suis pas sûr(e) que cette/ce... soit à mon goût" (I'm not sure this... is to my taste)
Navigating a French Shopping Experience
Store Sections and Vocabulary
- Familiarize yourself with common store sections, such as "vêtements pour femmes/hommes" (women's/men's clothing), "chaussures" (shoes), "accessoires" (accessories), and "soldes" (sales)
- Other useful vocabulary includes "rayon" (department), "caisse" (checkout), "cabine d'essayage" (fitting room), "taille" (size), "couleur" (color), and "prix" (price)
- To ask where a specific item or section is located, use the phrase "Où puis-je trouver... ?" (Where can I find...?) or "Pouvez-vous me dire où se trouve... ?" (Can you tell me where... is located?)
- If you need help finding something, don't hesitate to ask a sales assistant "Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous m'aider ?" (Excuse me, can you help me?)
Making a Purchase
- When ready to make a purchase, use the phrase "Je voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît" (I would like to pay, please) or simply "Je vais payer" (I will pay)
- To ask about accepted payment methods, say "Quels sont les modes de paiement acceptés ?" (What payment methods are accepted?) or specifically ask "Acceptez-vous les cartes de crédit/les chèques ?" (Do you accept credit cards/checks?)
- If you need a bag for your purchases, ask "Pouvez-vous me donner un sac, s'il vous plaît ?" (Can you give me a bag, please?)
- Don't forget to say "Merci" (Thank you) and "Au revoir" (Goodbye) when leaving the store