Lesson 4: Shopping and Clothing
Learn essential vocabulary for shopping, clothing items, asking for prices, and making purchases in French stores
Lesson 4: Shopping and Clothing 🛍️👗
Welcome to Lesson 4! Now that you've mastered greetings, numbers, and family descriptions, it's time to venture into the exciting world of shopping (faire les courses). Whether you're browsing a Parisian boutique or asking for prices at a market, this lesson will equip you with the essential vocabulary and phrases you need.
Introduction: Why Shopping Vocabulary Matters 💰
Shopping is one of the most practical situations you'll encounter when traveling or living in a French-speaking country. From buying groceries to finding the perfect souvenir, knowing how to ask questions, understand prices, and describe what you want is crucial for independence and confidence.
🎭 Cultural Context: French markets (marchés) are a beloved tradition! From food markets to flea markets (marchés aux puces), shopping is often a social activity where bargaining and friendly conversation are expected.
Core Concept 1: Essential Shopping Vocabulary 🏪
Let's start with the fundamental words you'll need in any shopping situation.
Key Shopping Terms
Le magasin (luh ma-ga-ZAN) = the store
La boutique (lah boo-TEEK) = the shop/boutique
Le marché (luh mar-SHAY) = the market
Le supermarché (luh soo-pair-mar-SHAY) = the supermarket
Le prix (luh PREE) = the price
L'argent (lar-ZHON) = the money
Acheter (ash-TAY) = to buy
Vendre (VON-druh) = to sell
Coûter (koo-TAY) = to cost
Payer (pay-YAY) = to pay
💡 Tip: Notice how "supermarché" looks like "supermarket"? Many modern French words related to shopping are similar to English!
The Magic Question: Combien? 🔢
Combien? (kom-bee-YAN) = How much? / How many?
This is your most powerful word when shopping. Combined with what you learned in Lesson 2 (numbers), you can navigate any price discussion:
- Combien ça coûte? = How much does this cost?
- C'est combien? = How much is it? (more casual)
🧠 Mnemonic: "Combien" sounds like "combine"—you're combining your question with prices!
Pointing and Asking 👉
Ça (SAH) = this/that (informal, very useful!)
Ceci (suh-SEE) = this (formal)
Cela (suh-LAH) = that (formal)
C'est (SAY) = it is / this is
Ce sont (suh SON) = these are / they are
In shops, you'll hear and use these constantly:
- C'est combien? = How much is this?
- Je voudrais ça = I would like that
Core Concept 2: Clothing Vocabulary 👔👗
Let's explore the world of les vêtements (lay vet-MON) = clothes.
Basic Clothing Items
+-------------------+-------------------------+-------------------+
| FRENCH | PRONUNCIATION | ENGLISH |
+-------------------+-------------------------+-------------------+
| le pantalon | luh pon-ta-LON | pants/trousers |
| la chemise | lah shuh-MEEZ | shirt |
| le t-shirt | luh tee-SHIRT | t-shirt |
| la robe | lah ROHB | dress |
| la jupe | lah ZHOOP | skirt |
| le pull | luh POOL | sweater |
| le manteau | luh mon-TOH | coat |
| la veste | lah VEST | jacket |
| les chaussures | lay show-SOOR | shoes |
| les chaussettes | lay show-SET | socks |
| le chapeau | luh sha-POH | hat |
| l'écharpe | lay-SHARP | scarf |
+-------------------+-------------------------+-------------------+
⚠️ Important Gender Note: Remember that every noun in French has a gender!
- Le = masculine (le pantalon, le pull, le chapeau)
- La = feminine (la robe, la jupe, la veste)
- Les = plural (les chaussures, les chaussettes)
🔤 Etymology Connection: "Pantalon" comes from an Italian comedy character who wore distinctive trousers! "Chapeau" relates to "cap" and "cape" in English—all head coverings!
Size and Fit Vocabulary 📏
La taille (lah TIE) = the size
Petit(e) (puh-TEE/puh-TEET) = small
Moyen(ne) (moy-YAN/moy-YEN) = medium
Grand(e) (GRON/GROND) = large
Trop (TROH) = too (much)
Assez (ah-SAY) = enough
Key Phrases:
- Quelle taille? (kel TIE) = What size?
- C'est trop petit = It's too small
- C'est trop grand = It's too big
- C'est parfait = It's perfect
🎯 Common Expression: Ça me va (sah muh VAH) = It fits me / It suits me
This is what you say when trying on clothes!
Core Concept 3: Polite Shopping Phrases 🙏
Being polite is essential in French culture, especially in shops!
Essential Polite Expressions
Je voudrais (zhuh voo-DRAY) = I would like
Je cherche (zhuh SHERSH) = I'm looking for
Avez-vous...? (ah-vay-VOO) = Do you have...? (formal)
Est-ce que vous avez...? (es-kuh voo-zah-VAY) = Do you have...? (more explicit)
Puis-je voir...? (pwee-zhuh VWAR) = May I see...?
Je peux essayer? (zhuh puh eh-say-YAY) = Can I try (it on)?
💡 Tip: "Je voudrais" (I would like) is MORE polite than "Je veux" (I want). Always use "voudrais" when shopping!
Response Phrases You'll Hear 👂
Voilà (vwa-LAH) = Here you are / There you go
Bien sûr (bee-YAN SOOR) = Of course
Certainement (ser-ten-MON) = Certainly
Désolé(e) (day-zoh-LAY) = Sorry
Nous n'avons pas (noo nah-VON pah) = We don't have
En quelle couleur? (on kel koo-LUHR) = In what color?
Quelle taille? (kel TIE) = What size?
Paying and Finishing 💳
Je prends ça (zhuh PRON sah) = I'll take this
L'addition, s'il vous plaît (lah-dee-see-YON, seel voo PLAY) = The bill, please
Par carte (par KART) = By card
En espèces (on es-PES) = In cash
Merci beaucoup (mer-SEE bow-KOO) = Thank you very much
Au revoir (oh ruh-VWAR) = Goodbye
SHOPPING INTERACTION FLOW
========================
👋 GREETING
|
v
🔍 ASKING/LOOKING
"Je cherche..."
"Avez-vous...?"
|
v
💰 PRICE INQUIRY
"C'est combien?"
|
v
👔 TRY/EXAMINE
"Je peux essayer?"
|
v
✅ DECISION
"Je prends ça" / "Non merci"
|
v
💳 PAYMENT
"Par carte"
|
v
👋 FAREWELL
"Merci, au revoir!"
Extended Shopping Scenario: At the Boutique 🏬
Let's see all this vocabulary in action! Here's a realistic conversation:
Sophie enters a clothing boutique in Lyon...
Vendeuse (Saleswoman): Bonjour madame! (Hello ma'am!)
Sophie: Bonjour! Je cherche un pull. (Hello! I'm looking for a sweater.)
Vendeuse: Bien sûr! En quelle couleur? (Of course! In what color?)
Sophie: En bleu, s'il vous plaît. (In blue, please.)
Vendeuse: Voilà, nous avons ce pull bleu. (Here, we have this blue sweater.)
Sophie: C'est combien? (How much is it?)
Vendeuse: Quarante-cinq euros. (Forty-five euros.)
Sophie: Je peux essayer? (Can I try it on?)
Vendeuse: Certainement! La cabine est là. (Certainly! The fitting room is there.)
Sophie tries on the sweater...
Sophie: Ça me va! Je prends ça. (It fits me! I'll take it.)
Vendeuse: Très bien! Vous payez par carte? (Very good! Are you paying by card?)
Sophie: Oui, par carte. (Yes, by card.)
Vendeuse: Voilà, merci beaucoup! (Here you go, thank you very much!)
Sophie: Merci, au revoir! (Thank you, goodbye!)
Vendeuse: Au revoir madame, bonne journée! (Goodbye ma'am, have a good day!)
🎭 Cultural Note: In French shops, especially smaller boutiques, you're expected to greet the shopkeeper when entering and say goodbye when leaving—even if you don't buy anything!
Example Situations with Explanations 📝
Example 1: At the Shoe Store 👟
You: Bonjour! Je cherche des chaussures. (Hello! I'm looking for shoes.)
Vendeur: Bonjour! Pour homme ou pour femme? (Hello! For men or women?)
You: Pour homme. Quelle est la taille? (For men. What's the size?)
Vendeur: Nous avons du 40 au 45. (We have from 40 to 45.)
You: Je voudrais voir le 42, s'il vous plaît. (I would like to see size 42, please.)
Explanation: Notice how "des chaussures" uses "des" (some/plural) because shoes come in pairs! The phrase "du 40 au 45" means "from 40 to 45"—a useful pattern for ranges.
Example 2: Asking About Colors 🎨
You: Avez-vous cette veste en noir? (Do you have this jacket in black?)
Vendeuse: Désolée, nous avons seulement en gris et en marron. (Sorry, we only have it in grey and brown.)
You: Je peux voir en gris? (Can I see it in grey?)
Vendeuse: Voilà! (Here you go!)
Explanation: When specifying colors, use "en" (in): "en rouge" (in red), "en vert" (in green). Remember your colors from Lesson 3! The word "seulement" (only) is useful for understanding limitations.
Example 3: Something Doesn't Fit 😕
You: tries on pants Euh... c'est trop petit. (Um... it's too small.)
Vendeur: Pas de problème! Voici une grande taille. (No problem! Here's a large size.)
You: Merci! Ah oui, c'est parfait maintenant! (Thank you! Ah yes, it's perfect now!)
Vendeur: Super! Vous prenez ça? (Great! Are you taking it?)
You: Oui, je prends ça. (Yes, I'll take it.)
Explanation: "Pas de problème" (no problem) is a friendly response you'll hear often. "Maintenant" (now) is a useful time word. Notice how "vous prenez" (are you taking) uses the formal "vous" form—shops use formal language.
Example 4: At the Market 🥕🍎
You: Bonjour! C'est combien, les tomates? (Hello! How much are the tomatoes?)
Vendeur: Trois euros le kilo. (Three euros per kilo.)
You: Je voudrais deux kilos, s'il vous plaît. (I would like two kilos, please.)
Vendeur: Voilà, ça fait six euros. (Here you go, that makes six euros.)
You: hands over money Merci! (Thank you!)
Explanation: "Le kilo" means "per kilo." The phrase "ça fait" (that makes) is how vendors tell you the total. Markets are more casual but still require polite greetings!
Common Mistakes to Avoid ⚠️
Mistake 1: Forgetting Gender Articles
❌ Wrong: Je cherche pantalon.
✅ Correct: Je cherche un pantalon.
Why: You must include the article (un/une/des). Without it, the sentence is incomplete.
Mistake 2: Using "Je veux" Instead of "Je voudrais"
❌ Wrong: Je veux ce pull. (Too direct, sounds demanding)
✅ Correct: Je voudrais ce pull. (Polite, conditional form)
Why: "Je veux" means "I want" and sounds rude in shops. Always use "je voudrais" (I would like).
Mistake 3: Wrong Word Order with Colors
❌ Wrong: Un rouge pull.
✅ Correct: Un pull rouge.
Why: In French, adjectives usually come AFTER the noun (unlike English). Color words always follow the noun.
Mistake 4: Confusing "Prix" and "Pris"
❌ Wrong: Le pris est dix euros. (pris = taken/caught)
✅ Correct: Le prix est dix euros. (prix = price)
Why: These sound similar but mean different things! "Prix" (price) vs. "pris" (taken).
Mistake 5: Not Making Adjectives Agree
❌ Wrong: Une chemise blanc. (blanc is masculine)
✅ Correct: Une chemise blanche. (blanche is feminine)
Why: Adjectives must match the gender of the noun. "Chemise" is feminine, so "blanc" becomes "blanche."
🔤 Gender Agreement Quick Guide:
- petit (masc.) → petite (fem.)
- grand (masc.) → grande (fem.)
- noir (masc.) → noire (fem.)
Many adjectives just add an "e" for feminine forms!
Mini-Story: Sophie's Shopping Day 📖
Here's a short story using ALL the vocabulary from this lesson:
Une journée de shopping (A Shopping Day)
Sophie va au magasin aujourd'hui. Elle cherche une robe pour une fête. Dans la boutique, elle voit une jolie robe rouge.
"C'est combien?" demande Sophie.
"Soixante euros," répond la vendeuse.
"Je peux essayer?"
"Bien sûr!" dit la vendeuse.
Sophie essaie la robe. C'est trop grand! La vendeuse apporte une petite taille. Maintenant, ça me va parfaitement!
"Je prends ça," dit Sophie.
Elle paie par carte. Après, elle va au marché pour acheter des fruits. Les pommes coûtent deux euros le kilo. Sophie achète aussi un chapeau noir et une écharpe bleue.
C'est une bonne journée! Sophie a une nouvelle robe, un chapeau, une écharpe, et des fruits frais. Elle est contente!
English Translation:
Sophie is going to the store today. She's looking for a dress for a party. In the boutique, she sees a pretty red dress.
"How much is it?" asks Sophie.
"Sixty euros," replies the saleswoman.
"Can I try it on?"
"Of course!" says the saleswoman.
Sophie tries on the dress. It's too big! The saleswoman brings a small size. Now, it fits me perfectly!
"I'll take it," says Sophie.
She pays by card. Afterward, she goes to the market to buy fruit. The apples cost two euros per kilo. Sophie also buys a black hat and a blue scarf.
It's a good day! Sophie has a new dress, a hat, a scarf, and fresh fruit. She's happy!
Key Takeaways 🎯
✅ Combien? is your essential shopping word—memorize "C'est combien?" (How much is it?)
✅ Use "Je voudrais" (I would like) instead of "Je veux" (I want) to be polite
✅ Remember clothing gender: le pull, la robe, les chaussures
✅ Adjectives (including colors) come AFTER nouns: un pull rouge, une robe bleue
✅ Key phrases: Je cherche (I'm looking for), Je peux essayer? (Can I try?), Ça me va (It fits)
✅ Always greet shopkeepers: Bonjour when entering, Au revoir when leaving
✅ Specify with en: "en noir" (in black), "en grande taille" (in large size)
🧠 Memory Trick: Think of shopping as a conversation journey: Greet → Look → Ask → Try → Decide → Pay → Thank!
📋 Quick Reference Card: Shopping Essentials
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ FRENCH SHOPPING QUICK REFERENCE ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ASKING: ║
║ • C'est combien? = How much? ║
║ • Avez-vous...? = Do you have...? ║
║ • Je peux essayer? = Can I try? ║
║ ║
║ WANTING: ║
║ • Je voudrais... = I would like... ║
║ • Je cherche... = I'm looking for... ║
║ • Je prends ça = I'll take this ║
║ ║
║ CLOTHING BASICS: ║
║ • le pantalon = pants • la robe = dress ║
║ • le pull = sweater • la jupe = skirt ║
║ • les chaussures = shoes • le manteau = coat ║
║ ║
║ SIZE/FIT: ║
║ • Quelle taille? = What size? ║
║ • Trop petit/grand = Too small/big ║
║ • Ça me va = It fits me ║
║ ║
║ PAYMENT: ║
║ • Par carte = By card ║
║ • En espèces = In cash ║
║ • Ça fait... = That makes... (total) ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
🤔 Did You Know?
Fashion Capital: Paris is considered the fashion capital of the world! The French take clothing seriously, and there's even a phrase: "être bien dans sa peau" (to feel good in one's skin), which reflects the French philosophy that when you dress well, you feel confident.
Market Culture: French markets aren't just for shopping—they're social events! The tradition of "marché du dimanche" (Sunday market) dates back centuries. People go to socialize, taste samples, and chat with vendors about recipes and cooking tips.
Sizing Differences: French clothing sizes are different from US/UK sizes! A French size 38 is roughly a US size 6. Always try things on or ask for help with conversions!
📚 Further Study
- French Shopping Vocabulary Practice: https://www.lawlessfrench.com/vocabulary/shopping/
- French Market Culture and Phrases: https://www.thoughtco.com/french-markets-vocabulary-1368824
- French Clothing Vocabulary with Audio: https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/french-clothing-vocabulary/
Congratulations! 🎉 You now have the essential vocabulary and phrases to navigate French shops, markets, and boutiques. Practice by imagining shopping scenarios, or better yet, visit a French store or market if you can! Remember: the key to confidence is practice and politeness. Bon shopping! (Happy shopping!)