Do you know how to say 'how much' in French? Here it is: combien.
But...do you know all the contexts in which it is used?
If you read this article, you'll kow how to use PROPERLY the French word combien.
You'll know:
- how to ask for quantities
- how to ask ‘how much does it cost?’ in French
- the money-related vocabulary and how to use it WELL
- how to talk about weight, length, distance and volume
Maybe you don’t know anything about it now, but after reading it and completing the several exercises, IT WILL BE CLEAR.
I'm Thomas Ricomard, since 2018, I wrote many articles on this blog to help you learn and improve your French.
Understanding the word 'combien' in French
What is the basic understanding of expressing quantities and costs in French?
In thats section we will focus on
- The fundamentals of quantities in French
- Asking about cost: combien ça coûte ?
The fundamentals of quantities in French
The word combien is commonly used to ask questions of quantity in French.
How much does this bag weigh?
How tall is she?
How much time does it take to complete this presentation?
How many kilometers did you cover on your trip?
Asking about cost: 'combien ça coûte ?'
Here are 2 scenarios to practice:
You might read 'drink in French' and the wine terms in French articles. Never spend your money before you have earned it. Here are 3 practical examples of money-related conversations. I’ll give you here some colloquial French expressions for money. Pay attention that the English translation is not always completely accurate (because it's not possible to have one). You know how to ask for food (grapes in French), so you should know how to say 'expensive' in French? There is no technique, there is just the way to do it. Now, are we going to measure or are we going to cook? Watch this video to go deeper in your knowledge. By loading the video, you agree to YouTube's privacy policy. Here are 2 scenarios to practice: Here are 3 scenarios to practice: Do you know French pastries? 'How much' in French is combien. The French translation for 'how much does it cost?' is Combien cela coûte ? Combien coûte les bananes ? Combien pèse le poulet ? Combien de kilomètres doit-on marcher pour arriver chez toi ? Thank you for reading ithe article. Any questions or comments, write them below and I’ll give you a answer. Thomas 🙂 https://www.capital.fr/conso/comment-sont-fixes-les-prix-des-aliments-dans-les-supermarches-1465029 Thomas Ricomard specializes in teaching French as a foreign language. He has been providing private lessons since 2015, both in-person and online (via Skype). He taught at the Popular University of the Canton of Geneva (Switzerland) from 2015 to 2018, instructing several groups of 20 students from around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc.), ranging from beginner to intermediate levels (A1 to B2). With a Master’s degree in clinical and cognitive psychology from the University of Geneva, his knowledge of psychology allows him to tailor his teaching methods for optimal learning, taking into account factors such as visual memory versus auditory memory. He expresses his passion for the French language through writing texts, including poetry and songs, which he presents publicly at numerous music and slam events.
Person A
Bonjour, j’aime beaucoup cette robe. Combien coûte-t-elle, s’il vous plaît ?
Hello, I really like this dress. How much does it cost, please?
Person B
(the seller) Bonjour ! Cette robe est à 90 euros.
Hello! This dress is 90 euros.
Person A
Je trouve qu’elle est chère. Avez-vous des remises sur des robes du même type ?
I find it expensive. Do you have any discounts on dresses of the same type?
Person B
(the seller) Oui, nous avons une remsie sur une robe similaire, elle est à 60 euros.
Yes, we have a discount on a similar dress; it's priced at 60 euros.
Person A
Bonjour, je suis intéressé par cette voiture électrique. Combien de kilomètres est-ce qu’elle peut parcourir avec la batterie pleine ?
Hello, I'm interested in this electric car. How many kilometers can it travel on a full battery? Person B
(the seller) Bonjour ! Cette voiture électrique a une autonomie d'environ 50 kilomètres avec une batterie pleine.
Hello! This electric car has a range of approximately 50 kilometers on a full battery.
The very useful sentence
Expressing prices and money in French
To have money as if it were raining.
It means to have a lot of money.
To throw money out of the window.
It means spending money excessively and irresponsibly.
To be in the red.
It means to have a negative balance on your bank account.
From euros to cents: talking about currency
Person A
Quel est le prix pour 1 kilo de pommes ?
What is the price for 1 kilo of apples?
Person B
(the seller) C’est 2 euros le kilo.
It's 2 euros per kilo.
Person A
Je prends deux kilos, donc ça coûte 4 euros. Voici la monnaie.
I'll take two kilos, so that's 4 euros. Here's the change.
Person A
(the waiter) Le plat principal est à 15 euros.
The main dish is 15 euros.
Person B
(the client) Ok, je le prends, et je laisserai 2 euros de pourboire en espèces.
Okay, I'll take it, and I'll leave a 2-euro tip in cash.
Person A
(the client) Combien côute un pain au chocolat, s’il vous plaît ?
How much does a chocolate croissant cost, please?
Person B
(the seller) C’est 1 euro et 30 centimes.
It's 1 euro and 30 cents.Colloquial expressions for money
Fric
(’Bucks’ in English) Je veux du fric pour les vacances.
I want some cash for the holidays.
Pognon
Il a pas mal de pognon chez lui.
He has quite a bit of money at home.
Blé
(Literally it means ‘wheat’) Ça c’est beaucoup de blé !
That's a lot of dough!
Oseille
(It refers to cash or money) Tu as de l’oseille sur toi ?
Do you have any cash on you?
Tune
Je n’ai pas trop de tune en ce moment.
I don't have much money at the moment.
prix, kilos, euros, la monnaie, pourboire en espèces.
At least, 3 colloquial French expressions for money
Measurements and weight in French conversations
Talking about weight and mass
250 grams of flour
2 eggs
500 ml of milk
A pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
Learn more
Person A
Combien pèse ce melon ?
How much does this melon weigh?
Person B
Il fait environ 4 kilos.
It's about 4 kilograms.
Person A
On va prendre 500 grammes de viande, s'il vous plaît.
We'll take 500 grams of meat, please.
Person B
500 grammes de viande, ok. Je vous rajoute 20 grammes de saucisses, c’est gratuit.
500 grams of meat, okay. I'll add 20 grams of sausages for you, it's free.
Discussing length, distance and volume
Person A
C’est un voyage de combien de kilomètres ?
How many kilometers is the journey?
Person B
Le trajet fait environ 800 kilomètres.
The trip is approximately 800 kilometers.
Person A
Quelle est la limite de poids pour les petits bagages ?
What is the weight limit for small luggage?
Person B
Le maximum est de 25 kilos.
The maximum is 25 kilograms.
Person A
Quelle est la longueur de tissu à acheter pour les rideaux du salon ?
What is the length of fabric to buy for the living room curtains?
Person B
On prendra 5 mètres pour être sûr.
Let's take 5 meters to be sure.
Some words
FAQ
How do you say 'how much' in French?
What is the French translation for 'how much does it cost'?
Can you give examples of sentences with 'how much' in French?
How much do the bananas cost?
How much does the chicken weigh?
How many kilometers do we have to walk to get to your place?
Resources
