The partitive and quantities
Du pain, but un kilo de pain
For “some” of something, French uses the partitive article: du (masculine), de la (feminine), de l’ (before a vowel), des (plural). As soon as there is an exact quantity or a negative, all four shrink to de.
| Some… | A quantity of… | None… |
|---|---|---|
| du painsome bread | un kilo de paina kilo of bread | pas de painno bread |
| de la confituresome jam | un pot de confiturea jar of jam | pas de confitureno jam |
| de l’eausome water | une bouteille d’eaua bottle of water | pas d’eauno water |
| des pommessome apples | beaucoup de pommeslots of apples | pas de pommesno apples |
| du fromagesome cheese | un peu de fromagea little cheese | plus de fromageno more cheese |
Kinds of shop
La boulangerie, la boucherie, le tabac
Many shop names end in -erie and are feminine: la boulangerie from le boulanger (the baker). You go à la boulangerie or chez le boulanger.
At the till
Par carte ou en espèces ?
The phrases you hear at every French till, in order. Tap ▶ to hear each line.
- 1Bonjour !good-daybon-ZHOOR“Hello!”Said on entering, to everyone.
- 2Etandavec ceci ?with thisay a-vek suh-SEE“Anything else?”The vendor’s standard question.
- 3C’estit’stout,allmerci.thankssay TOO, mair-SEE“That’s all, thanks.”
- 4Çathatfaitmakescombien ?how-muchsa fay kom-BYAN“How much is that?”
- 5Par carteby cardouoren espèces ?in cashpar KART oo on nes-PESS“Card or cash?”Contactless (sans contact) is everywhere.
- 6Bonnegoodjournée !daybon zhoor-NAY“Have a nice day!”Reply: Merci, vous aussi ! (You too!)
How French shopping works
Bonjour first, Sunday closed, soldes twice a year
Bonjour, alwaysWalking into a shop without bonjour seems rude. Greet the staff, and say au revoir as you leave.bon-ZHOOR, ma-DAM · “Hello, madam.”
Bonjour,hellomadame.madam
Sunday and MondayMany small shops close on Sunday afternoon and some on Monday. Bakeries usually open on Sunday morning.say fair-MAY luh lun-DEE · “It’s closed on Mondays.”
C’estit’sferméclosedle lundi.on Mondays
Les soldesSales are set by law: a few weeks in January and in summer, with the dates fixed nationally.say ton SOLD · “It’s on sale.”
C’estit’sen solde.on sale
In a clothes shop
Je peux l’essayer ? Vous l’avez en 40 ?
The exchange in a boutique follows a pattern: a greeting (always say Bonjour on entering), looking, trying on, size and decision. Object pronouns (le, la, les) replace the item.
Vendeusebon-ZHOOR, zhuh puh voo zay-DAY · “Hello, can I help you?”
Bonjour,helloje peuxI canvous aider ?you help
Clientnon mair-SEE, zhuh ruh-GARD · “No thanks, I’m just looking.”
Non merci,no thanksje regarde.I look
Clientzhuh puh lay-say-YAY · “Can I try it on?”
Je peuxI canl’essayer ?it try-on
Vendeusebyan SÜR, lay ka-BEEN son toh FON · “Of course, the fitting rooms are at the back.”
Bien sûr,of courseles cabinesthe fitting-roomssont au fond.are at-the back
Clientvoo la-VAY on ka-RONT · “Do you have it in a 40?”
Vous l’avezyou it-haveen 40 ?in 40
Vendeuseeel voo VA tray BYAN · “It really suits you.”
Ilitvous vayou suitstrès bien.very well
Clientzhuh luh PRON · “I’ll take it.”
JeIle prends.it take
Sales and prices
Les soldes, une promo, moins 30 %
France has two official sale periods a year, in January and in summer, set by the state. These are the words on the labels.
Keep going