Useful French Phrases for Shopping: Essential Expressions

Shopping in France often feels more personal than in many other countries. Whether you’re visiting a small village shop or a large grand magasin, you’re likely to be greeted by a friendly “Bonjour !” and a shop assistant ready to help. This lesson gives you the essential phrases you will hear and use in French shops, so you can browse confidently, ask for help, and pay with ease.

Core Phrases You’ll Hear in a French Shop

English	French
How may I help you?	Comment je peux vous aider ?
Can I help you?	Est-ce que je peux vous aider ?
I am just looking.	Je ne fais que regarder.
Can I pay with a credit card?	Est-ce que je peux payer par carte de crédit ?
Where is the supermarket, please?	Où se trouve le supermarché, s’il vous plaît ?

Scene-Setter: The Shopping Experience in France

In France, customer interaction is seen as polite and important. You’ll almost always be greeted when you enter a shop, and it’s considered good manners to greet the assistant first before asking for help:

• Bonjour, madame
• Bonjour, monsieur

If you don’t want assistance straight away, the polite phrase Je ne fais que regarder (I am just looking) is commonly used and perfectly acceptable.

Useful Phrases for Asking for Help

Here are additional phrases you can use to extend real-life conversations:

English	French
Do you have this in another size?	Vous avez ceci dans une autre taille?
Do you have this in another colour?	Vous avez ceci dans une autre couleur?
I’m looking for…	Je cherche…
Do you sell…?	Vous vendez…?
I’d like this one, please.	Je voudrais celui-ci / celle-ci, s’il vous plaît.

Sentence Builder: Asking for Items

Use Je voudrais… (“I would like…”) to request an item politely.

Je voudrais… + item

Examples:

• Je voudrais un sac, s’il vous plaît.
  → I would like a bag, please.
• Je voudrais cette chemise, s’il vous plaît.
  → I would like this shirt, please.
• Je voudrais un kilo de tomates, s’il vous plaît.
  → I would like a kilo of tomatoes, please.

This pattern works in supermarkets, bakeries, butchers’ shops, and even markets.

Paying in a Shop

You will commonly hear:

• Ça fait… → “That comes to…”
• Vous payez comment ? → “How are you paying?”
• Par carte ou en espèces ? → “By card or in cash?”

Credit card payments are widespread, but small village shops may still prefer cash for low-value items.

Sentence Builder: More Phrases for in a Shop

Est-ce que je peux… Can I…

valider un bon d’achat redeem a voucher payer comptant pay in cash payer par carte de crédit pay with a credit card payer par carte bancaire pay with a bank card avoir un sac have a bag avoir un reçu have a receipt avoir de la petite monnaie have some change

s’il vous plaît? please?

Exercise: In a Shop

Using the sentence builder and the vocabulary above, provide the French for the following phrases.

Cultural Notes

Greeting is essential

In France, saying “Bonjour” before asking anything is expected. Skipping the greeting can be seen as rude, even if accidental.

Tapping your card

Contactless payments are standard and usually accepted without comment. You may hear:

• Vous pouvez insérer la carte. → You can insert your card.
• Vous pouvez taper. → You can tap.

Browsing is normal

French shopkeepers often offer help early as a courtesy. “Je ne fais que regarder” is a polite reassurance, not a rejection.

Practice Activity

Translate into French:

1. I am just looking.
2. Can I pay with a credit card?
3. How may I help you?
4. I’m looking for the wine shop.
5. I would like this one, please.

Answers:

1. Je ne fais que regarder.
2. Est-ce que je peux payer par carte de crédit ?
3. Comment je peux vous aider ?
4. Je cherche la boutique de vin.
5. Je voudrais celui-ci / celle-ci, s’il vous plaît.

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