When you’re in a French-speaking country, shopping at the deli can be an enjoyable and culturally enriching experience. Whether you’re picking up some fresh produce, selecting meats and cheeses, or even fruits in French, knowing the right phrases and vocabulary will make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. 

In this post, we’ll cover essential phrases and vocabulary related to shopping at the deli, with a focus on fruits in French, vegetables in French, and general grocery shopping in French.

Delicacies, vegetables, and fruits in French – A list of essential vocabulary for grocery shopping in French

When you’re at the deli, you’ll likely be purchasing a variety of items, including fresh produce. Here’s a list of essential vocabulary to help you navigate your grocery shopping in French.

Fruits in French

• une pomme an apple
• une banane a banana 
• une poire a pear
• un orange an orange  
• une fraise  a strawberry
• une framboise a raspberry
• un ananas a pineapple
• une tomate a tomato  

Vegetables in French

• un oignon an onion
• une pomme de terre, une patate a potato
• un poireau a leek 
• une courgette a zucchini
• des épinards spinach
• des haricots beans
• des petits pois green peas

Ordering vegetables and fruits in French

When you’re at the deli, you’ll need to know how to ask for the items you want. Here are some phrases to help you get started with grocery shopping in French:

• Je voudrais des pommes. I would like some apples.
• Donnez-moi des pommes, s’il vous plaît. Give me some apples, please.
• Je voudrais quatre tranches de jambon. I would like four slices of ham.
• Je voudrais 500g de fromage. I would like 500g of cheese.

Discussing quantities

If you need a refresher on numbers, make sure to check our lessons on numbers from 0 to 10 and from 11 and above. When grocery shopping in French, it’s important to know how to specify quantities. Here are some useful phrases:

• un kilo de … a kilogram of …
• C’est combien ? How much is it?
• Ça coûte combien ? How much does it cost?

For example:

• Je voudrais un kilo de pommes, s’il vous plaît. I would like a kilogram of apples, please.
• Ça coûte combien pour les pommes ? How much does it cost for the apples?

Would you like to hear these phrases pronounced and used in context? Listen to Episode 26 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French podcast for more insights and useful expressions.

Tasting and selecting

Often, when shopping at a deli, you might want to taste something before buying it. Here’s how to ask:

• Je peux goûter ? Can I taste/try it?
• Je voudrais goûter ce fromage, s’il vous plaît. I would like to taste this cheese, please.

If you like what you’ve tasted, you can say:

• J’aime bien ! Donnez-moi 400g de ça. I like it! Give me 400g of that.

Finalising your purchase

After selecting your items, you’ll need to wrap up your purchase. Here are a few more phrases to complete your grocery shopping in French:

• Ça sera tout ? Will that be all?
• Oui, c’est tout. Yes, that’s all.
• Ça fait ving-deux euros quarante-cinq. It’s 20,45€
• Je paie en espèces. I’m paying by cash.
• Je paie avec une carte de crédit. I’m paying with a credit card.

Knowing how to shop at the deli in French is a valuable skill, especially if you want to immerse yourself in the local culture. By mastering the fruits in French, vegetables in French, and other essential grocery shopping in French phrases, you’ll be able to confidently navigate your way through any market or deli. 

Whether you’re buying a few slices of ham or a kilogram of apples, these phrases will ensure you get exactly what you want. Bon appétit !

Do you want to keep improving your French skills and learn how to talk about money and prices? Then, check the article we prepared to help you exchange money in French.