Shop confidently in French — navigate stores, ask about prices, discuss sizes and colors, handle transactions, and understand the differences between shopping in France and Canada.
Estimated Time: 45–55 minutes
l'euro (m) — plural: les euros
le centime — 100 centimes = 1 euro
"Ça coûte quinze euros cinquante" (€15.50)
Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1€, 2€
Bills: 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€, 100€, 200€, 500€
le dollar (canadien) — plural: les dollars
le cent / le sou — 100 cents = 1 dollar
"Ça coûte quinze dollars et cinquante" ($15.50)
Coins: 5¢ (cinq cents), 10¢ (dix cents), 25¢ (vingt-cinq cents), 1$ (huard/loonie), 2$ (toonie)
The one-dollar coin is called le huard (the loon) in French
| French | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| la boulangerie | bakery (bread) | Bread is bought fresh daily in France |
| la pâtisserie | pastry shop | Cakes, tarts, éclairs |
| la boucherie | butcher shop | |
| la poissonnerie | fish shop | |
| la fromagerie | cheese shop | |
| l'épicerie (f) | grocery store | Small neighborhood store |
| le supermarché | supermarket | Carrefour, Leclerc (🇫🇷) / IGA, Métro (🇨🇦) |
| le marché | market | Open-air markets — weekly in most towns |
| la pharmacie | pharmacy | Green cross sign |
| la librairie | bookstore | ⚠️ NOT "library" — that's bibliothèque |
| le magasin | store / shop | General term |
| le centre commercial | shopping mall |
Small specialty shops (boulangerie, fromagerie) are still central to daily life. Sunday shopping is limited — many stores close. Faire du shopping or faire les courses (grocery shopping) are standard phrases.
The dépanneur (corner store / convenience store) is a Québec institution — open late, sells snacks, drinks, and lottery tickets. Say "faire du magasinage" (not shopping). Big-box stores are common, and Sunday shopping is normal.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je regarde, merci | I'm just looking, thanks |
| Combien ça coûte ? / C'est combien ? | How much does it cost? / How much is it? |
| Ça fait combien ? | How much does that come to? (at checkout) |
| Est-ce que vous avez... ? | Do you have...? |
| Je cherche... | I'm looking for... |
| Est-ce que je peux essayer ça ? | Can I try this on? |
| C'est trop cher | It's too expensive |
| C'est une bonne affaire / un bon prix | It's a good deal / price |
| Il y a une réduction / un rabais ? | Is there a discount? |
| Je le prends / Je la prends | I'll take it (m/f) |
| Vous acceptez la carte ? | Do you accept cards? |
| Je paie en espèces / en liquide | I'm paying cash |
| Où sont les cabines d'essayage ? | Where are the fitting rooms? |
| Vous avez ça en taille... ? | Do you have this in size...? |
Both mean "discount." Réduction is more common in France; rabais is more common in Canada. Les soldes refers to seasonal sales (there are legally regulated sales periods in France — usually January and July).
| French | English | French | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| un pantalon | pants/trousers | une robe | dress | |
| un jean | jeans | une jupe | skirt | |
| une chemise | shirt (button-up) | un manteau | coat | |
| un t-shirt / un tee-shirt | t-shirt | une veste | jacket | |
| un pull (over) | sweater | des chaussures (f) | shoes | |
| un chapeau | hat | des chaussettes (f) | socks |
| French (m/f) | English | French (m/f) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| blanc / blanche | white | noir / noire | black |
| rouge | red | bleu / bleue | blue |
| vert / verte | green | jaune | yellow |
| gris / grise | gray | rose | pink |
| violet / violette | purple | marron* | brown |
| orange* | orange | beige | beige |
Most colors agree with the noun (add -e for feminine, -s for plural). But marron and orange are invariable — they never change: des chaussures marron, une robe orange.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quelle taille ? | What size? |
| petit (P) / moyen (M) / grand (G) | small / medium / large |
| trop grand / trop petit | too big / too small |
| Ça me va | It fits me |
| Ça ne me va pas | It doesn't fit me |
| Quelle pointure ? (shoes) | What shoe size? |
France uses European sizing (different from US). Canada uses North American sizing for most clothing. A US women's size 8 ≈ French size 40. Always try things on or check conversion charts!
Open-air markets are a cornerstone of French life. Here's how to navigate them:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je voudrais un kilo de tomates | I'd like a kilo of tomatoes |
| Donnez-moi une livre de... | Give me a pound of... (500g in France) |
| Une tranche de jambon | A slice of ham |
| Un morceau de fromage | A piece of cheese |
| Un bouquet de fleurs | A bouquet of flowers |
| C'est tout, merci | That's all, thank you |
| Vous avez un sac ? | Do you have a bag? |
Both France and Canada use the metric system. Common quantities at the market: un kilo (1 kg / 2.2 lb), une livre (500g in France, actual pound/454g in Canada), 100 grammes (about 3.5 oz). In France, produce is priced per kilo. Bring your own bags — plastic bags are banned or charged in both countries.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| payer par carte (bancaire) | pay by (debit/credit) card |
| payer en espèces / en liquide / en cash | pay in cash |
| le reçu / la facture | the receipt / the invoice |
| rendre la monnaie | give change |
| les taxes | taxes |
Prices displayed include all taxes (TTC — Toutes Taxes Comprises). What you see is what you pay. Carte bancaire (CB) is accepted nearly everywhere. Contactless payment (sans contact) is widespread.
Like the rest of North America, prices are displayed before tax. GST/QST (federal + provincial sales tax in Québec, ~15% combined) are added at checkout. Interac debit is universal. Tipping culture applies in restaurants and services.
1. What is a "dépanneur" in Québec?
2. "La librairie" in French means:
3. In France, displayed prices:
✦ France uses euros (€); Canada uses Canadian dollars ($). The "dépanneur" is a Québec institution.
✦ "Librairie" = bookstore (NOT library!), "bibliothèque" = library.
✦ Key phrases: "Combien ça coûte?", "Je cherche...", "Je le prends", "L'addition, SVP."
✦ Colors agree with nouns — except marron and orange, which are invariable.
✦ France prices include tax (TTC); Canadian prices add tax at checkout (~15% in Québec).
✦ "Magasinage" (🇨🇦) vs "shopping" (🇫🇷) — both mean shopping.