How to ask how much something costs in French
C'est combien ?
“How much is it?”
When: pointing at anything on a stall or shelf
The moment
You are at the open-air market on Rue Mouffetard, eyeing two things on a stall. You want to know what each one costs and react to the answer.
A1 · Unit 1 · First words
The lines
Asking the price
"C'est combien ?" is the fastest way to ask what something costs, said while pointing. The answer is a number plus euros, so learn un, deux, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix.
C'est combien ?
“How much is it?”
When to use it: pointing at anything on a stall or shelf
What you’ll hear back: Ça fait trois euros. (That's three euros.)
Saying it costs a lot
"C'est un peu cher." softens the complaint with un peu, a bit, which keeps it friendly. At a market it can even open the door to a better price.
C'est un peu cher.
“It's a little expensive.”
When to use it: reacting to a price that surprised you
What you’ll hear back: Je peux vous faire un petit prix. (I can give you a good price.)
Words for this scene
| French | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| trois euros cinquante | trwah zuh-ROH san-KAHNT | three euros fifty |
Ça fait trois euros cinquante. That comes to three euros fifty. Tip: Vendors say ça fait before the total, so listen for it. | ||
| Vous pouvez répéter ? | voo poo-VAY reh-pay-TAY | can you say that again? |
Pardon, vous pouvez répéter ? Sorry, can you say that again? Tip: Start with pardon so it lands as polite, not impatient. | ||
| C'est pas cher ! | seh pah SHEHR | that's cheap! |
Deux euros le kilo, c'est pas cher ! Two euros a kilo, that's cheap! Tip: Dropping the ne is normal in speech; keep it when writing. | ||
Your objective
Ask what two different things cost, then say which one you’ll take and how many.
- the price of two things
- which one you want
- how many
Lines that get it done
- C'est combien ?
- C'est pas cher ! · that's cheap!
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You are pointing at a scarf on a market stall. How do you ask what it costs?
- C'est combien ?
- C'est comment ?
- Ça va combien ?
- Combien c'est cher ?
Show the answer
C'est combien ?
C'est combien is the everyday spoken way to ask a price.
2. The vendor says "huit euros". How much do you owe?
- 8 euros
- 2 euros
- 11 euros
- 18 euros
Show the answer
8 euros
Huit is eight; deux is two, onze is eleven and dix-huit is eighteen.
3. The price is higher than you expected. How do you say it's a bit expensive?
- C'est un peu cher.
- C'est très pas cher.
- Il est cher un peu.
- C'est un peu combien.
Show the answer
C'est un peu cher.
Un peu goes before cher and keeps the remark polite.