French Words to Use at the Supermarket

Quick Answer

Un frigo vide ?(An empty fridge?) In this article, you'll find all the essential French vocabulary words and phrases you'll need for a trip to le supermarché(the supermarket), including sections of the supermarket, essential items you can buy there, supermarket employees, and common phrases you'll need to make your purchases in French!

Questions This Article Answers

How do you talk about going to the supermarket in French?

What are the names of sections of the supermarket in French?

What are some key words for supermarket items in French?

What are some French words related to shopping in the supermarket?

How do you talk about supermarket employees in French?

What are some useful French phrases needed for going grocery shopping?

How Do You Talk About Going to the Supermarket in French?

In French, le supermarché(the supermarket) is a grocery store that sells food and other household products, like cleaning supplies, all in one place. Here are some verbs to use when you're going to the supermarket in French! Allons-y !(Let's go!)

Going Grocery Shopping in French

French	English
aller au supermarché	to go to the supermarket
faire les courses	to go grocery shopping

examples
On n'a plus de lait ! - T'inquiète pas. Je vais au supermarché ce matin. We're out of milk! - Don't worry. I'm going to the supermarket this morning.
Mes voisins font les courses tous les lundis. My neighbors go grocery shopping every Monday.

Going Grocery Shopping in Québec

In Québec, there are other ways to say you’re going grocery shopping! Here are a couple of regional expressions you can use if you’re going to the supermarket in la Belle Province(the beautiful province):

French	English
faire son épicerie	to go grocery shopping
faire sa commande	to go grocery shopping

examples
Carole fait son épicerie demain. Carole is going grocery shopping tomorrow.
Je vais faire ma commande en fin de semaine. I'm going to go grocery shopping at the end of the week.

examples

Carole fait son épicerie demain.

Carole is going grocery shopping tomorrow.

Je vais faire ma commande en fin de semaine.

I'm going to go grocery shopping at the end of the week.

Did you notice that verb phrases about grocery shopping in French use the irregular French verbs aller(to go) and faire(to do)? Learn how to conjugate these verbs by clicking on the links below!

Aller

Faire

Sections of the Supermarket in French

Supermarkets are usually divided into sections or rayons(aisles) by the types of products you can find there. Here are some sections you're likely to find in a typical supermarket!

Sections of the Supermarket in French

French	English
le rayon boissons	the beverage aisle
le rayon boucherie	the meat section
le rayon boulangerie-pâtisserie	the bakery section
le rayon entretien	the cleaning supplies aisle
le rayon fruits et légumes	the produce section
le rayon hygiène et beauté	the health and beauty aisle
le rayon poissonnerie	the fish section
le rayon produits laitiers	the dairy section
le rayon produits surgelés	the frozen foods section

examples
Le lait et le fromage se trouvent dans le rayon produits laitiers. Milk and cheese are found in the dairy section.
J'ai trouvé de bonnes fraises dans le rayon fruits et légumes. I found some good strawberries in the produce aisle.

Essential Supermarket Items in French

Let’s take a look at some must-know nouns for buying les provisions(groceries). These are the items you might shop for in a supermarket in a French-speaking country!

Produce in French

In the produce aisle, you'll find des fruits(some fruits) and des légumes(some vegetables). Here are some common produce items you might put in your cart!

Essential Produce Items in French

French	English
le brocoli	the broccoli
le champignon	the mushroom
la fraise	the strawberry
l'oignon	the onion
l'orange	the orange
la pomme	the apple
la pomme de terre	the potato
le raisin	the grapes
la salade	the lettuce
la tomate	the tomato

examples
J’achète des tomates et des oignons pour notre salade. I'm buying tomatoes and onions for our salad.
Tu veux des pommes ou des oranges ? Do you want apples or oranges?

Dairy Products in French

In the dairy aisle, you're likely to find a number of common produits laitiers(dairy products). Les œufs(eggs) can also be found in or near the dairy section!

Essential Dairy Items in French

French	English
le beurre	the butter
la crème	the cream
le fromage	the cheese
le lait	the milk
l'œuf	the egg
le yaourt	the yogurt

examples
Caro a besoin de lait. Elle en met dans son café. Caro needs milk. She puts some in her coffee.
Les enfants aiment manger du yaourt comme goûter après l'école. The children like to eat yogurt as a snack after school.

Proteins in French

There are typically a wide variety of proteins available in French supermarkets, including la viande(the meat), la volaille(the poultry), le poisson(the fish), and les fruits de mer(the seafood). There are usually also vegetarian options, like products made from le soja(the soy).

Essential Proteins in French

French	English
le bœuf	the beef
la crevette	the shrimp
le porc	the pork
le poulet	the chicken
le saumon	the salmon
le thon	the tuna
le tofu	the tofu

examples
Nous allons préparer du saumon avec une sauce au citron et aux câpres. We're going to make salmon with a lemon and caper sauce.
Maman a besoin de bœuf pour faire son ragoût. Mom needs some beef to make her stew.

Pantry Items in French

There are a number of foods you can keep in your garde-manger(pantry) to use in preparing meals. Here are a few you might want to pick up when in the grocery store!

Essential Pantry Items in French

French	English
les céréales	the cereal
la confiture	the jam
la farine	the flour
les pâtes	the pasta
le poivre	the pepper (spice)
le riz	the rice
la sauce tomate	the tomato sauce
le sel	the salt
la soupe en boîte	the canned soup
le sucre	the sugar

examples
Eric est allé au supermarché pour acheter des pâtes et de la sauce tomate. Eric went to the supermarket to buy pasta and tomato sauce.
Quel type de céréales veux-tu ? What kind of cereal do you want?

Types of Supermarket Products in French

Supermarkets sell all kinds of products from fresh vegetables to frozen French fries to canned tuna. Here are some key words to describe the types of products you'll find in the store!

French	English
biologique	organic
en boîte	canned or packaged
en promotion	on sale
frais	fresh
surgelé	frozen

examples
Tu peux m'acheter du thon en boîte quand tu iras au supermarché ? Can you buy me some canned tuna when you go to the supermarket?
Maman préfère les brocolis frais aux brocolis surgelés. Mom prefers fresh broccoli to frozen broccoli.

examples

Tu peux m'acheter du thon en boîte quand tu iras au supermarché ?

Can you buy me some canned tuna when you go to the supermarket?

Maman préfère les brocolis frais aux brocolis surgelés.

Mom prefers fresh broccoli to frozen broccoli.

Beauty Products and Household Items

Supermarkets also sell des produits de beauté(beauty products), des produits d'hygiène(personal care products), and des produits ménagers(household supplies). Here are some essentials you may want to add to your cart!

Essential Beauty and Household Items in French

French	English
la brosse à dents	the toothbrush
le dentifrice	the toothpaste
l'essuie-tout	the paper towels
la lessive	the laundry detergent
le liquide vaisselle	the dishwashing liquid
le shampooing	the shampoo

examples
Est-ce que nous avons besoin de lessive ? Do we need any laundry detergent?
Philippe a fini le dentifrice ce matin. Il faut en racheter. Philippe used up the toothpaste this morning. We need to buy some more.

French Vocabulary Related to Shopping in a Supermarket

Once you're in the supermarket, there are some key vocabulary words you may need to do your shopping. Take a look!

Common Words for Supermarket Shopping in French

French	English
les aliments	the food
le caddie	the shopping cart
la caisse	the checkout or cash register
le comptoir	the counter
la liste de courses	the grocery shopping list
le panier	the basket
les provisions	the groceries or the supplies
le rayon	the aisle
le sac de courses	the grocery bag
le sac réutilisable	the reusable bag

examples
Va chercher un caddie. On a beaucoup de choses sur notre liste de courses. Go get a shopping cart. We have a lot of things on our grocery shopping list.
Nous achèterons des sacs réutilisables à la caisse. We'll buy some reusable bags at the checkout.

Names for Supermarket Employees in French

Here are the most common words for talking about people who work at the supermarket.

Supermarket Employees in French

French	English	Notes
le caissier	the cashier	male
la caissière	the cashier	female
le commis	the clerk	male
la commise	the clerk	female
le gérant	the manager	male
la gérante	the manager	female

examples
Les caissiers dans ce supermarché sont super sympas. The cashiers in this supermarket are really nice.
Le commis réapprovisionne les rayons. The clerk is restocking the shelves.

Useful Phrases for Grocery Shopping in French

You're finding your way around the supermarket and filling your cart with the items on your list! Now, learn some common expressions you might use to talk to people while grocery shopping in a French-speaking country!

French Phrases Supermarket Shoppers Might Say

French	English
J’ai besoin d’un sac, s’il vous plaît.	I need a bag, please.
Je vais payer avec ma carte bancaire.	I’m going to pay with my debit card.
Je vous dois combien ?	How much do I owe you?
Où sont les produits d’entretien ?	Where are the cleaning products?
Voici ma carte de fidélité.	Here’s my rewards card.

French Phrases Supermarket Employees Might Say

French	English
Avez-vous des sacs réutilisables ?	Do you have any reusable bags?
Avez-vous une carte de fidélité ?	Do you have a rewards card?
Le montant est de 32 euros, s’il vous plaît.	The total is 32 euros, please.
Vous payez comment, par carte ou en espèces ?	How are you going to pay, with a card or with cash?
Voici votre monnaie et votre ticket.	Here’s your change and your receipt.

Remember to Use Polite Expressions in the Supermarket!

When you are at the supermarket in a French-speaking country, remember to use the formal vous(you) with employees and other shoppers. And never forget to use polite greetings and goodbyes like the following!

French	English
Bonjour madame.	Hello, ma'am.
Bonjour monsieur.	Hello, sir.
Bonne journée !	Have a nice day!
Merci beaucoup.	Thanks a lot.
S’il vous plaît.	Please.