Grocery Shopping in French
Faisons les courses !(Let's go grocery shopping!) In this article, you'll find all the essential French vocabulary words and phrases you'll need to run errands and shop for essential items in local small businesses, including the types of stores you can shop in, how to talk about shopkeepers and store employees, and common phrases you'll need to make your purchases in French!
Questions This Article Answers
How do you talk about going shopping in French?
What are the different types of shops called in French?
How do you talk about shopkeepers and store employees in French?
What are some useful French phrases needed for going shopping?
How Do You Talk About Going Shopping in French?
In French, there are two main verb phrases used to talk about two different types of shopping. One is used for shopping for things you want, the other for things you need. Take a look at the table below to see what we mean!
Two Main Verb Phrases to Talk About Shopping in French
In this article, we'll talk about grocery shopping in French, words to describe the types of stores you can shop in for daily essentials, vocabulary to describe store employees, and important words and phrases you'll need to make your purchases!
Want to go shopping for clothes, gifts, or just see what's on sale? Check out our other articles on shopping in French!
Places to Shop for Groceries and Run Errands
There are many places to shop for groceries and run errands in French-speaking countries, ranging from small local stores to open-air markets to big-box stores. While one-stop superstores have become increasingly popular in many places, the traditional French way to shop for necessities is to go to an open-air market or to make purchases at multiple petits commerces(small businesses). No matter your preference, here are some essential vocabulary words for places you might choose to do your shopping!
One-Stop Shopping Venues in French
While the local marketplace—bringing together independent vendors of all kinds of products—is the original venue for one-stop grocery shopping in France, there are now grocery stores and large chain stores that sell all of the essential items you might need for your household. Take a look at the table below for different types of one-stop shopping locales.
One-Stop Grocery Shopping in French
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Heading to the supermarket? This article has all the vocabulary you'll need to talk about supermarket shopping in French, including the terms for sections and aisles in a supermarket, typical products on sale in each section, and other key vocabulary words for a successful trip to the supermarket!
Small Businesses in French
In a typical city neighborhood or small town in France, you're likely to find a variety of petits commerces(small shops), each specializing in a particular type of product. The traditional way to shop in France is to go to multiple stores to do your grocery shopping and run errands. Small local shops tend to pride themselves on high-quality products and service. Here are some shops you might visit if you shop local!
Local Shops in French
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Combined Stores in French
It's quite common for small businesses that sell similar types of products to be combined into one local shop. For example, you're likely to encounter a boucherie-charcuterie(butcher shop and delicatessen) that sells both raw and prepared meats. Likewise, you might come across a boulangerie-pâtisserie(bakery and pastry shop) that sells breads as well as baked goods or a crèmerie-fromagerie(dairy and cheese shop) that sells both dairy products and cheeses.
Store Employees in French
While there are some general French terms for store employees that you might find in any kind of shop, most of the small businesses also have specific words for the people who work in that profession. Take a look at the tables below to learn the French job titles for people who work in stores and specialty shops!
General Store Employees in French
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Small Business Professions in French
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Chez le Boucher or À la Boucherie: What’s the Difference?
Short answer: not much. These are two different ways to express the same idea in French. When you’re talking about going shopping at a small local shop, you can either use the preposition à(to) followed by the name of the shop, or you can use the preposition chez(at) followed by the shopkeeper's profession. Check out the examples in the following table!
Useful Phrases for Grocery Shopping in French
When shopping locally or at a marketplace, here are some common expressions you might use to interact with vendors in a French-speaking country!
French Phrases Shoppers Might Say
French Phrases Store Employees Might Say
A Conversation at the Bakery
Let’s look at a conversation between a shopper and an employee in a bakery!
Check out all of our articles related to shopping in French!
