Faire du Shopping: Complete Guide to Shopping Vocabulary and Phrases in French

Shopping is an essential part of everyday life, whether you're buying groceries, clothes, gifts, or souvenirs. In French-speaking countries, knowing how to navigate shops, ask for prices, try on clothes, make purchases, and handle returns is crucial for a smooth and enjoyable experience. From the local market to the department store, this guide covers everything you need to shop like a native.

This comprehensive guide will teach you all the vocabulary, phrases, and expressions you need for faire du shopping (going shopping) in French. You will learn how to ask for what you want, understand prices and sizes, make payments, deal with problems, and interact with shop assistants. By the end, you will be able to shop with confidence in any French-speaking environment.

1. Types of Shops (Les Types de Magasins)

Here is vocabulary for different types of stores and shops you might visit.

• le magasin – shop / store
• le grand magasin – department store
• le centre commercial – shopping mall / center
• la boutique – boutique / small shop
• le marché – market (outdoor)
• le supermarché – supermarket
• l'hypermarché (m) – hypermarket
• la boulangerie – bakery
• la pâtisserie – pastry shop
• la boucherie – butcher's shop
• la charcuterie – delicatessen / pork butcher
• la poissonnerie – fishmonger's
• la fromagerie – cheese shop
• la crémerie – dairy shop
• le primeur – greengrocer (fruit & vegetables)
• la pharmacie – pharmacy
• la parfumerie – perfume shop
• la bijouterie – jewelry shop
• la quincaillerie – hardware store
• la librairie – bookshop
• la papeterie – stationery shop
• la boutique de souvenirs – souvenir shop
• le magasin de vêtements – clothing store
• la boutique de chaussures – shoe shop
• le magasin d'électronique – electronics store

Examples:

• Je vais au supermarché pour acheter de la nourriture. – I am going to the supermarket to buy food.
• Il y a une belle boutique de vêtements dans ce centre commercial. – There is a nice clothing store in this shopping mall.
• J'adore le marché du dimanche matin. – I love the Sunday morning market.

2. Essential Shopping Vocabulary

Here are key words you will need in any shopping situation.

General Terms:

• le prix – price
• la réduction – discount / reduction
• la solde – sale (usually plural: les soldes)
• la promotion – promotion / special offer
• le remboursement – refund
• l'échange (m) – exchange
• le reçu – receipt
• le ticket de caisse – cash receipt
• la carte de crédit – credit card
• la carte de débit – debit card
• l'espèces (f pl) – cash
• le paiement – payment
• le panier – shopping basket
• le chariot – shopping cart / trolley
• le sac – bag
• l'emballage (m) – packaging / wrapping
• le magasinier – storekeeper
• le vendeur / la vendeuse – shop assistant / salesperson
• le client / la cliente – customer

Clothing and Sizes:

• la taille – size (clothing)
• la pointure – shoe size
• la couleur – color
• la coupe – cut / style
• le style – style
• le modèle – model / style
• la matière – material / fabric
• le coton – cotton
• la laine – wool
• la soie – silk
• le cuir – leather
• le polyester – polyester
• la chemise – shirt
• le pantalon – trousers
• la jupe – skirt
• la robe – dress
• le manteau – coat
• la veste – jacket
• les chaussures (f pl) – shoes
• les bottes (f pl) – boots
• les sandales (f pl) – sandals
• les baskets (f pl) – trainers / sneakers

3. Asking for What You Want

Here are phrases to ask for items, sizes, and help in a shop.

Looking for Something:

• Je cherche... – I am looking for...
• Je voudrais... – I would like...
• Est-ce que vous avez... ? – Do you have...?
• Vous avez ceci en rouge ? – Do you have this in red?
• Où se trouve le rayon des... ? – Where is the ... section?
• Où sont les soldes ? – Where are the sales?
• Je cherche un cadeau pour mon ami. – I am looking for a gift for my friend.
• Pouvez-vous m'aider, s'il vous plaît ? – Can you help me, please?

Sizes and Colors:

• Quelle taille faites-vous ? – What size are you?
• Je fais du 38. – I am a size 38.
• Je fais du M (moyen). – I am a size M (medium).
• Je fais du L (grand). – I am a size L (large).
• Je fais du 40 en chaussures. – I am a size 40 in shoes.
• Vous l'avez en bleu ? – Do you have it in blue?
• Vous l'avez en plus grand ? – Do you have it in a larger size?
• Vous l'avez en plus petit ? – Do you have it in a smaller size?

Trying On Clothes:

• Puis-je essayer ce vêtement ? – Can I try on this item of clothing?
• Où sont les cabines d'essayage ? – Where are the fitting rooms?
• Je vais l'essayer. – I am going to try it on.
• Il est trop grand / trop petit. – It is too big / too small.
• Il est parfait. – It is perfect.
• Il me va bien. – It fits me well.
• Il ne me va pas. – It doesn't fit me.
• Je le prends. – I will take it.
• Je ne le prends pas. – I won't take it.

4. Asking for Prices and Payment

Here are phrases for asking about prices and making payments.

Asking About Price:

• Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?
• Ça fait combien en tout ? – How much is it altogether?
• Le prix est de combien ? – What is the price?
• Est-ce qu'il y a une réduction ? – Is there a discount?
• Y a-t-il des soldes en ce moment ? – Are there sales at the moment?
• Est-ce que vous pouvez me faire un prix ? – Can you give me a better price? (Negotiating)

Payment:

• Je vais payer par carte. – I am going to pay by card.
• Je vais payer en espèces. – I am going to pay in cash.
• Vous acceptez la carte de crédit ? – Do you accept credit cards?
• Où est la caisse ? – Where is the cash register?
• Je peux avoir un reçu, s'il vous plaît ? – Can I have a receipt, please?
• Je voudrais le ticket de caisse. – I would like the cash receipt.
• Je paie en espèces. – I am paying in cash.
• Puis-je payer par chèque ? – Can I pay by check?

5. Returning or Exchanging Items

Here are phrases for returning or exchanging items that don't work out.

• Je voudrais rapporter cet article. – I would like to return this item.
• Je voudrais échanger ce vêtement. – I would like to exchange this item of clothing.
• Il est défectueux. – It is defective.
• Il ne me plaît pas. – I don't like it.
• Il est trop grand. – It is too big.
• Puis-je avoir un remboursement ? – Can I have a refund?
• Y a-t-il une garantie ? – Is there a warranty?
• Je l'ai acheté il y a deux jours. – I bought it two days ago.
• J'ai perdu le reçu. – I lost the receipt.
• Je voudrais une autre taille. – I would like a different size.
• Je voudrais une autre couleur. – I would like a different color.

6. At the Supermarket (Au Supermarché)

Shopping for groceries requires specific vocabulary. Here are useful phrases.

• un caddie – shopping trolley / cart
• un panier – shopping basket
• le rayon – aisle / section
• le rayon de fruits et légumes – fruit and vegetable section
• le rayon des produits laitiers – dairy section
• le rayon des viandes – meat section
• le rayon de la boulangerie – bakery section
• le rayon des boissons – drinks section
• le rayon des produits ménagers – household products
• la caissière / le caissier – cashier
• la file d'attente – queue
• faire la queue – to queue / stand in line
• Les sacs sont-ils gratuits ? – Are the bags free?
• Je voudrais un sac, s'il vous plaît. – I would like a bag, please.
• Je n'ai pas de pièces. – I don't have any change.
• Vous pouvez m'aider à trouver ce produit ? – Can you help me find this product?

7. At the Market (Au Marché)

Outdoor markets are a French cultural institution. Here is vocabulary for shopping at a market.

• le marché – market
• le marchand / la marchande – market seller / vendor
• l'étal (m) – stall
• les fruits et légumes – fruit and vegetables
• les herbes aromatiques – herbs
• les épices – spices
• le fromage – cheese
• la viande – meat
• le poisson – fish
• les fleurs (f pl) – flowers
• les vêtements (m pl) – clothes
• les objets d'artisanat – handicrafts
• Combien coûtent les tomates ? – How much are the tomatoes?
• Je vais prendre un kilo de pommes. – I will take a kilo of apples.
• Je vais prendre deux kilos de pommes de terre. – I will take two kilos of potatoes.
• Je vais prendre une baguette. – I will take one baguette.
• Vous avez des fraises ? – Do you have strawberries?
• C'est combien le kilo ? – How much is the kilo?
• Pourriez-vous me faire un prix ? – Could you give me a price? (Negotiating)

8. Sample Dialogues

Here are realistic dialogues to help you practice.

Dialogue 1: Buying Clothes

Vous: Bonjour, je cherche une robe rouge. – Hello, I am looking for a red dress.

Vendeuse: Bien sûr. Quelle taille faites-vous ? – Of course. What size are you?

Vous: Je fais du 38. – I am a size 38.

Vendeuse: Nous avons cette robe en rouge et en bleu. Vous voulez l'essayer ? – We have this dress in red and blue. Do you want to try it on?

Vous: Oui, s'il vous plaît. Où sont les cabines d'essayage ? – Yes, please. Where are the fitting rooms?

Vendeuse: Elles sont au fond du magasin. – They are at the back of the store.

Vous: Merci. – Thank you.

(After trying it on)

Vous: Elle me va bien. Je la prends. Combien ça coûte ? – It fits me well. I will take it. How much does it cost?

Vendeuse: Elle coûte 49,99 euros. – It costs 49.99 euros.

Vous: Je paie par carte. – I pay by card.

Dialogue 2: At the Supermarket

Vous: Bonjour. Je cherche le rayon des fruits et légumes. – Hello. I am looking for the fruit and vegetable section.

Employé: C'est au fond à gauche. – It's at the back on the left.

Vous: Merci. Est-ce que vous avez des pommes bio ? – Thank you. Do you have organic apples?

Employé: Oui, elles sont dans le rayon bio. – Yes, they are in the organic section.

Vous: Parfait. Je vais prendre un kilo. – Perfect. I will take a kilo.

(At the checkout)

Caissière: Ça fait 23,50 euros. Vous payez comment ? – That will be 23.50 euros. How will you pay?

Vous: Je paie en espèces. Voilà. – I am paying in cash. Here you go.

Caissière: Merci. Voici votre ticket de caisse. – Thank you. Here is your receipt.

Vous: Merci, bonne journée ! – Thank you, have a good day!

Dialogue 3: Returning an Item

Vous: Bonjour, je voudrais échanger ce pull. Il est trop grand. – Hello, I would like to exchange this jumper. It is too big.

Vendeur: Vous avez le reçu ? – Do you have the receipt?

Vous: Oui, le voici. – Yes, here it is.

Vendeur: Parfait. Vous voulez une autre taille ? – Perfect. Do you want a different size?

Vous: Oui, une taille plus petite, s'il vous plaît. – Yes, a smaller size, please.

Vendeur: Voilà. Essayez-le et dites-moi si ça vous va. – Here you go. Try it on and let me know if it fits.

Vous: Merci beaucoup ! – Thank you very much!

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these frequent errors when shopping in French:

• Confusing "taille" and "pointure": Taille is for clothing; pointure is for shoes.
• Using "essayer" incorrectly: ❌ Je vais essayer ce vêtement. → ✅ Je vais essayer ce vêtement. (It's correct, but remember to add the reflexive pronoun for some verbs: Je vais l'essayer or Je vais essayer cette robe.)
• Confusing "en espèces" and "par carte": En espèces = cash; par carte = by card.
• Forgetting the article with "rayon": ❌ Je cherche rayon des fruits. → ✅ Je cherche le rayon des fruits.
• Using the wrong size word: ❌ Je fais du 38 en chaussures. → ✅ Je fais du 38 en vêtements. (Use pointure for shoes.)

10. Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these exercises.

Exercise 1: Translate these sentences into French.

1. I am looking for a blue dress.
2. How much does this cost?
3. I would like to try it on.
4. Do you have it in a larger size?
5. I pay by credit card.
6. Can I have a receipt, please?

Answers: 1. Je cherche une robe bleue. 2. Combien ça coûte ? 3. Je voudrais l'essayer. 4. Vous l'avez en plus grand ? 5. Je paie par carte de crédit. 6. Puis-je avoir un reçu, s'il vous plaît ?

Exercise 2: Match the shop type with the product.

1. la boulangerie
2. la boucherie
3. la librairie
4. la pharmacie
5. la bijouterie

Answers: 1. pain / croissants, 2. viande, 3. livres, 4. médicaments, 5. bijoux

Exercise 3: Write a short dialogue in French between a customer and a shop assistant about buying a pair of shoes.

11. Memory Tricks and Mnemonics

Here are some simple memory aids to help you remember the vocabulary:

• "Taille = clothes, Pointure = shoes" – Remember: Pointure sounds like "point" – think of your feet pointing.
• "En espèces = cash" – Think of "species" – money in its physical form.
• "Le reçu = receipt" – Sounds like "receipt" in English.
• "Les soldes = sales" – Both start with 's' – easy to remember.

12. How to Practice Shopping Vocabulary

Consistent practice is the key to mastering this vocabulary. Here are some effective strategies:

• Go shopping in French-speaking areas and practice using these phrases.
• Read French supermarket flyers and try to understand prices and products.
• Watch French shopping vlogs or videos.
• Create a shopping list in French.
• Role-play shopping scenarios with a partner.

13. Cultural Note: Shopping in France

Understanding French shopping culture is helpful for a smooth experience.

Opening Hours:

In France, many shops close for lunch between 12:00 and 2:00 PM. On Sundays, many shops are closed, though some supermarkets and shops in tourist areas may be open.

Les Soldes (Sales):

France has regulated sales seasons: winter sales (January-February) and summer sales (June-July). During these periods, stores offer significant discounts.

Politeness:

Always greet shop assistants with Bonjour and say Au revoir and Merci when leaving. Politeness is expected and will be reciprocated.

Bargaining:

In markets, bargaining is acceptable. In stores, prices are usually fixed.

Fun Fact:

The Champs-Élysées in Paris is one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, home to luxury boutiques and flagship stores.

Final Thoughts

Mastering shopping vocabulary is essential for navigating daily life in French-speaking countries. Remember the key phrases for asking for items, sizes, prices, and payments. Practice your dialogues, and don't forget to be polite – it goes a long way in French culture!

Ready to practice? Leave a comment below describing a recent shopping experience in French. Include what you bought, where you went, how much it cost, and how you paid. We will check your grammar and provide feedback to help you perfect your skills!

Example Description:

Hier, je suis allée au centre commercial pour acheter un manteau. J'ai trouvé un manteau noir très élégant. Il était en solde à 30% de réduction. Il coûtait 120 euros, mais j'ai payé 84 euros. J'ai essayé le manteau et il me va parfaitement. J'ai payé par carte de crédit. La vendeuse était très sympathique.

Now it's your turn! Share your shopping experience below and let us help you master faire du shopping.