Markets & Souvenirs

1. Combien ça coûte ?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Most basic phrase for asking the price at a market

   Grammar Note

   More formally: "Combien cela coûte-t-il ?". "Ça" feels natural in markets

2. Est-ce qu'on peut négocier le prix ?

   Can we negotiate the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether the price is negotiable

   Grammar Note

   "Marchander" (to haggle at markets) is colloquially common

3. Vous me le faites à 10 euros ?

   Would you give it to me for 10 euros?

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price in negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Faire à + price" is the idiomatic way to ask "make it X". Perfect for market bargaining

4. Vous me faites une réduction si j'en prends plusieurs ?

   Will you give me a discount if I take several?

   Usage

   Asking for a bulk discount

   Grammar Note

   Pronoun "en" replaces a quantity. Pairs with "prendre plusieurs" (take several)

5. C'est fait à la main ?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Asking whether a craft is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Fait à la main" is a fixed expression. "Artisanal" (artisanal) is often paired with it

6. C'est fait en quoi ?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking the material of a craft or garment

   Grammar Note

   Material "en" works as "en bois" (wooden), "en argent" (silver)

7. Vous pouvez l'emballer en cadeau ?

   Could you wrap it as a gift?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   French department stores like Galeries Lafayette often offer free wrapping around holidays

8. Où se trouve le marché nocturne ?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Se trouver" (to be located) is more polite than "être". "Marché de nuit" also works

9. Je peux avoir un reçu, s'il vous plaît ?

   Could I have a receipt please?

   Usage

   Politely requesting a receipt

   Grammar Note

   "Reçu" is a general receipt; "facture" is a formal invoice

10. Quels sont les horaires du marché ?

    What are the market's hours?

    Usage

    Asking the market's operating hours

    Grammar Note

    "De + le" contracts to "du". French markets are often morning markets and close in the early afternoon

11. Je regarde juste, merci

    I'm just looking, thanks

    Usage

    Politely declining a vendor's offer to help

    Grammar Note

    "Je jette un coup d'œil" (taking a glance) also works. Adding "merci" softens it

12. Vous acceptez la carte ?

    Do you accept card?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    "La carte bancaire" (bank card) or just "la CB" (abbreviation) are common

13. C'est un souvenir pour ma famille

    It's a souvenir for my family

    Usage

    Telling the seller who the souvenir is for

    Grammar Note

    "Souvenir" originally means "memory" in French. "Pour" introduces the recipient

14. Vous pouvez l'envoyer à l'étranger ?

    Can you ship it abroad?

    Usage

    Checking whether international shipping is offered

    Grammar Note

    "Envoyer" = to send; "expédier" = to ship/dispatch (more formal)

15. Qu'est-ce que vous avez de plus frais aujourd'hui ?

    What's the freshest you have today?

    Usage

    Asking which item is freshest at a food market

    Grammar Note

    "Avoir de + adjective" is a special construction meaning "to have something ___"

16. Le prix est négociable ?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Directly asking whether the price can be lowered

    Grammar Note

    Negotiation is uncommon in shops but expected at markets and flea markets in France

17. Vous avez une taille plus petite ?

    Do you have a smaller size?

    Usage

    Asking for a smaller clothing size

    Grammar Note

    Adjective agrees with feminine "taille". Use "plus grande" for "larger"

18. C'est trop cher

    It's too expensive

    Usage

    Signaling that the offered price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Un peu cher" (a bit pricey) softens the tone. Standard during bargaining

19. le sel

    Salt

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "lightly salted, please" is "Peu salé, s'il vous plaît"

20. le sucre

    Sugar

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "no sugar" is "Sans sucre"

21. le poivre

    Pepper (spice)

    Usage

    The spice pepper; a bell pepper is a different word, "le poivron"

22. l'huile

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun elided to "l'"; olive oil is "l'huile d'olive"

23. le vinaigre

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

24. le beurre

    Butter

    Usage

    Point to this when buying butter or checking a dish for dairy

25. le fromage

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

26. le miel

    Honey

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

27. le yaourt

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Point to this when buying at a market or checking whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; also spelled "yogourt" or "yoghourt"

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