When you’re in a French-speaking country, knowing how to faire du shopping go shopping, is a useful skill that can greatly enhance your experience. Whether you’re browsing through local markets or shopping in chic boutiques, understanding the essential shopping vocabulary in French will help you navigate the retail landscape with ease. 

In this blog post, we’ll cover the key phrases and terms you need to know to faire du shopping like a pro.

Getting started ‘pour faire du shopping’ in French

To begin with, let’s familiarise ourselves with some of the basic shopping vocabulary in French:

• faire du shopping to go shopping. – This is the general term you’ll use when talking about shopping.
• faire du lèche-vitrine to go window shopping – Literally translated as to do some window-licking, this phrase is used when you’re just browsing without the intention to buy.

When you first enter a store, you might be greeted by the salesperson with:

• Je peux vous aider ? Can I help you?
• Puis-je vous aider ? Can I help you? – A more formal way to ask.

If you’re just looking around, you can respond with:

• Je regarde. I’m just looking.

Asking where to buy things

If you’re looking for something specific, it’s useful to know how to ask where you can find it. Here are some phrases to help you:

• Où est-ce que je peux acheter des vêtements ? Where can I buy clothes?
• Où est-ce que je peux acheter des souvenirs ? Where can I buy souvenirs?

Knowing how to ask these questions will make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for in order to ‘faire du shopping’.

Would you like to hear this vocabulary pronounced? Listen to episode 25 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast for more insights and useful phrases to help you faire du shopping en français.

Trying on clothes

When you find something you like, you’ll want to try it on. Here are some essential phrases related to trying on clothes:

• Est-ce que je peux l’essayer ? Can I try it on?
• C’est trop grand. It’s too big.
• C’est trop petit. It’s too small.
• Vouc avez ce t-shirt en 40 ? Do you have this t-shirt in size 40?

If you like what you’ve tried on and decide to buy it, you can say:

• Je le prends. I’ll take it.

Discussing prices and payment

Understanding how to discuss prices and payment is a crucial part of getting the hang of ‘faire du chocolat’. Here’s how you can ask about prices:

• Ça coûte combien ? How much is it?
• Ça coûte 30 euros. It costs 30 euros.

When it’s time to pay, you might ask:

• Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit ? Can I pay with a credit card?
• Je paie en espèces. I’m paying by cash.

The cashier might then ask:

• Voulez-vous un sac ? Do you want a bag?
• Est-ce que je peux avoir un sac, s’il vous plaît ? Can I have a bag, please?

And don’t forget to ask for your receipt:

• le ticket / le reçu receipt

Practical example: faire du shopping dans une boutique

Imagine you’re in a French boutique and you’re interested in buying a shirt. The conversation might go something like this:

• Salesperson: Je peux vous aider ?  
• You: Je regarde, merci.  

(Later)  

• You: Est-ce que je peux l’essayer ?  
• Salesperson: Bien sûr, les cabines sont là-bas.  

(After trying it on)  

• You: C’est trop petit. Avez-vous une taille plus grande ?  
• Salesperson: Oui, voici.  
• You: Parfait. Je le prends. Ça coûte combien ?  
• Salesperson: Ça coûte 50 euros.  
• You: Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit ?  
• Salesperson: Oui, bien sûr. Voulez-vous un sac ?  
• You: Oui, s’il vous plaît.

Knowing how to faire du shopping in a French-speaking country can make your experience much more enjoyable and stress-free. With the right shopping vocabulary in French, you’ll be able to confidently browse, try on, and purchase items with ease.

Whether you’re window shopping or on a full-blown shopping spree, these phrases will help you navigate the stores and markets like a local. Bon shopping !

Do you want to keep improving your French skills and learn how to shop at the deli? Then check the article we prepared to help you buy food in French.