First Phrases

Winter sales · Français

Winter sales shopping phrases in French: 15 phrases

Ask if something is on sale, what it costs with the discount, whether you can try it on, for a bigger or smaller size, about exchanges and returns, a receipt, paying by card and gift wrap. Short, natural phrases for the winter sales in a new country.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In French shops use "vous" with staff and other customers, and start with "Bonjour" before asking anything: it is expected. Young staff in clothes shops may use "tu" with you; you can stay with "vous". The official winter sales are called "les soldes".

How to read the sounds: Say the vowel through your nose where you see n/m after it (on, an, in); don't sound the n. r is a soft throat sound. Final consonants are mostly silent. Stress falls on the last syllable and is marked in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

15 phrases you will need

  1. 01Neutral
    C'est soldé ?
    Say it like: seh sol-DAY
    Is this on sale?
    Register: Also "C'est en solde ?". Say "Bonjour" first.
  2. 02Neutral
    Ça fait combien avec la réduction ?
    Say it like: sah feh kom-BYAN a-vek lah ray-dook-SYON
    How much is it with the discount?
    Register: Or "Ça fait combien après remise ?" (after the reduction).
  3. 03Neutral
    Le prix affiché, c'est déjà le prix soldé ?
    Say it like: luh pree a-fee-SHAY, seh day-ZHAH luh pree sol-DAY
    Is the price on the tag already the sale price?
    Register: Sometimes the extra discount is taken off at the till; this question checks.
  4. 04Neutral
    Je peux l'essayer ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh leh-say-YAY
    Can I try it on?
    Register: "Je peux les essayer ?" for a pair or several items.
  5. 05Neutral
    Où sont les cabines d'essayage ?
    Say it like: oo son lay ka-BEEN dess-ay-AHZH
    Where are the fitting rooms?
    Register: Singular: "Où est la cabine d'essayage ?".
  6. 06Polite
    Vous l'avez en plus grand ?
    Say it like: voo la-VAY on plew GRON
    Do you have it in a bigger size?
    Register: Or "dans la taille au-dessus" (in the next size up). Shoes: "une pointure au-dessus".
  7. 07Polite
    Vous l'avez en plus petit ?
    Say it like: voo la-VAY on plew puh-TEE
    Do you have it in a smaller size?
    Register: Or "dans la taille en dessous". Shoes: "une pointure en dessous".
  8. 08Polite
    Vous l'avez dans une autre couleur ?
    Say it like: voo la-VAY don zewn OH-truh koo-LUR
    Do you have it in another colour?
    Register: Add the colour: "en noir ?" (in black?).
  9. 09Polite
    Vous en avez encore en réserve ?
    Say it like: voo zon na-VAY on-KOR on ray-ZERV
    Do you still have some in the stock room?
    Register: Sale stock runs out fast, so it is worth asking.
  10. 10Neutral
    Je peux l'échanger ou me faire rembourser ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh lay-shon-ZHAY oo muh fair rom-boor-SAY
    Can I exchange it or get a refund?
    Register: In French shops an exchange or refund for a normal purchase is the shop's own policy, not a legal right. Ask before paying.
  11. 11Polite
    Vous reprenez les articles soldés ?
    Say it like: voo ruh-pruh-NAY lay zar-TEEKL sol-DAY
    Do you take back sale items?
    Register: Many shops offer only an exchange or a credit note ("un avoir") on sale items.
  12. 12Neutral
    Je peux avoir le ticket de caisse, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh a-VWAR luh tee-KAY duh KESS, seel voo PLAY
    Could I have the receipt, please?
    Register: For a gift ask for "un ticket cadeau" (a gift receipt) so the person can exchange it.
  13. 13Neutral
    Je peux payer par carte ?
    Say it like: zhuh puh pay-YAY par KART
    Can I pay by card?
    Register: "En espèces" is cash; "sans contact" is contactless.
  14. 14Neutral
    C'est bien la file pour la caisse ?
    Say it like: seh byan lah FEEL poor lah KESS
    Is this the queue for the till?
    Register: "File d'attente" is the queue; "bien" here means "really, am I right that".
  15. 15Polite
    Vous pouvez me faire un paquet cadeau, s'il vous plaît ?
    Say it like: voo poo-VAY muh fair uh pa-KAY ka-DOH, seel voo PLAY
    Could you gift-wrap it for me, please?
    Register: Some shops do this free, some charge a little, some do not offer it during the sales.

New in town?

More tools for people who just moved: converters, checklists and country guides.

Open Newcomer Kit

Quick answers

How do you ask if something is on sale in French?

Say: "C'est soldé ?" (Is this on sale?)

Should I use informal or formal French with shop staff?

In French shops use "vous" with staff and other customers, and start with "Bonjour" before asking anything: it is expected. Young staff in clothes shops may use "tu" with you; you can stay with "vous". The official winter sales are called "les soldes".

How do I ask to try something on in French?

Say: "Je peux l'essayer ?" (Can I try it on?)

How do I ask about exchanging or returning an item in French?

Try: "Je peux l'échanger ou me faire rembourser ?" (Can I exchange it or get a refund?)

Winter sales phrases in another language

Español Português Français Deutsch Italiano Nederlands Svenska

French, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat Christmas market Post office and parcels Registering at the town hall

All survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the language of the country you are shopping in.
  2. Read the phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. Native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Then open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group. Or try a phrase card for tonight first.

firstphrases.app/survival/sales-shopping-phrases/fr/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint