French - Shopping

Lesson 105 of 159

A shopper asking a sales assistant questions in French about sizes, returns and availability.

Goal: Useful store phrases for exchanges, returns and checking sizes

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for a shopping trip in French? This short lesson gives you the polite, practical phrases you need in a store. Have fun — imagine you're trying things on and asking questions like a confident shopper.

Level A2: In this lesson you'll practice 10 handy shopping phrases: asking to exchange an item, checking the return policy, saying something doesn't fit, commenting on price, browsing politely, asking about availability, confirming a price, asking staff to hold an item, asking about delivery time, and checking sizes. These CEFR-aligned phrases are perfect for real-shop situations — quick, polite, and very useful.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Learn and repeat 10 common French shopping phrases for A2 learners.
  • Ask about exchanges and return conditions politely.
  • Say that something doesn't fit, ask about price and availability, and request an item be held.
  • Practice asking about delivery time and product size.
A small clothing shop scene where a customer practices asking to exchange and check prices in French.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Je peux l'échanger ?

Can I exchange this?

Meaning: Can I exchange this?

When to use: Use this when you want to exchange a purchased item (different size, color, or model).

Tip: Avoid dropping the object pronoun: don't say only « Puis-je échanger ? » — include l' for the item.

Je peux l'échanger si la taille ne va pas ?
Can I exchange it if the size doesn't fit?
Je peux l'échanger contre un autre modèle ?
Can I exchange it for another model?

C'est quoi, les conditions de retour ?

What is the return policy?

Meaning: What is the return policy?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the store's rules for returns and refunds.

C'est quoi, les conditions de retour pour cet article ?
What are the return conditions for this item?
C'est quoi, les conditions de retour si j'achète en ligne ?
What is the return policy if I buy online?

Ça ne me va pas.

It doesn't fit.

Meaning: It doesn't fit me.

When to use: Say this after trying on clothing or shoes that are the wrong size or shape.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say only « Ça ne va pas. » — add « me » to show it doesn't fit you specifically.

J'ai essayé la robe, mais ça ne me va pas.
I tried the dress, but it doesn't fit me.
Les chaussures sont jolies, mais ça ne me va pas.
The shoes are nice, but they don't fit me.

C'est trop cher.

It's too expensive.

Meaning: It's too expensive.

When to use: Use this to express that the price is higher than you want to pay.

C'est trop cher pour mon budget.
It's too expensive for my budget.
Pour une veste comme ça, c'est trop cher.
For a jacket like that, it's too expensive.

Je regarde juste, merci.

I'm just browsing, thanks.

Meaning: I'm just browsing, thanks.

When to use: Say this politely when staff offer help and you want to continue looking alone.

Merci, je regarde juste, merci.
Thanks, I'm just looking.
Je regarde juste, merci — je vous appelle si j'ai besoin.
I'm just browsing, thanks — I'll call you if I need help.

C'est encore disponible ?

Is it still available?

Meaning: Is it still available?

When to use: Ask this for an item you saw but are not sure is still in stock.

La veste bleue, c'est encore disponible ?
Is the blue jacket still available?
Sur le site, ce téléphone est indiqué en rupture. En magasin, c'est encore disponible ?
The site shows this phone out of stock. Is it still available in-store?

C'est bien le bon prix ?

Is the price correct?

Meaning: Is the price correct?

When to use: Use this to check a displayed or scanned price that seems wrong or unclear.

Il y a une étiquette différente — c'est bien le bon prix ?
There's a different tag — is that the correct price?
Au passage en caisse, c'est bien le bon prix ?
At checkout, is that the correct price?

Vous pouvez me le mettre de côté ?

Can you hold this for me?

Meaning: Can you hold this for me?

When to use: Ask store staff to put an item aside until you return or decide.

Vous pouvez me le mettre de côté jusqu'à ce que je revienne ?
Can you hold it for me until I come back?
Si quelqu'un me le prend, vous pouvez me le mettre de côté, s'il vous plaît ?
If someone else picks it up, can you hold it for me please?

La livraison prend combien de temps ?

How long does delivery take?

Meaning: How long does delivery take?

When to use: Ask this when ordering online or asking about home delivery timelines.

Si je commande aujourd'hui, la livraison prend combien de temps ?
If I order today, how long does delivery take?
La livraison prend combien de temps pour la Corse ?
How long does delivery take to Corsica?

C'est quelle taille ?

What size is this?

Meaning: What size is this?

When to use: Use this to ask about the size of clothing, shoes, or an object's dimensions.

C'est quelle taille ? Je voudrais la voir en taille M.
What size is this? I'd like to try M.
C'est quelle taille pour ces chaussures ?
What size are these shoes?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a clothing shop counter — Anna tries a jacket and talks with the salesperson.

Two people at a store counter practicing a short exchange in French about size and exchange options.

What does Anna ask about the jacket?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Ça ne me va pas.

It doesn't fit me.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

D'accord. Je peux vous aider — c'est quelle taille ?

Okay. I can help — what size is it?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Je peux l'échanger ?

Can I exchange it?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui. C'est encore disponible en taille M. Vous voulez que je vous la mette de côté ?

Yes. It's still available in size M. Do you want me to hold it for you?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which French phrase means 'I'm just browsing, thanks.'?

Which phrase would you use to ask if an item is still in stock?

You see a price on the tag but the register shows something different. How do you ask 'Is the price correct?'

If you want the shop to reserve an item for you, which phrase should you use?

It doesn't fit me.

The shoes are too small. Anna tells the assistant: '___'.

Is the price correct?

You see two different tags. You ask the cashier: '___' to check the price.

Can I exchange this?

You decide you want a different size and ask the shop: '___' to know if you can swap it.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux l'échanger ?

Can I exchange this?

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est quoi, les conditions de retour ?

What is the return policy?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça ne me va pas.

It doesn't fit me.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est trop cher.

It's too expensive.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je regarde juste, merci.

I'm just browsing, thanks.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est encore disponible ?

Is it still available?

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est bien le bon prix ?

Is the price correct?

Say this phrase out loud:

Vous pouvez me le mettre de côté ?

Can you hold this for me?

Say this phrase out loud:

La livraison prend combien de temps ?

How long does delivery take?

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est quelle taille ?

What size is this?