Which French phrases matter most here?

“Je vous sers ?” (Can I help you); “Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez pour ce soir ?” (What would you recommend for tonight); “Je cuisine pour six personnes. Combien dois-je prendre ?” (I’m cooking for six people. How much should I get). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

French phrases for the butcher's and fishmonger's counter in France

Say “Bonjour”, then ask for advice: “Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez pour ce soir ?”. For meat, give the number of people: “Je cuisine pour six personnes. Combien dois-je prendre ?”. At the fish stall ask “Ce poisson est du jour ?”, then “Vous pouvez enlever les arêtes, s'il vous plaît ?”.

Try it · about two minutes

At the counter you ask what’s fresh today and how they can cut or clean it for you.

Sound on: the butcher and fishmonger speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Butcher and fishmonger
Je vous sers ?
Can I help you?
You
Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez pour ce soir ?
What would you recommend for tonight?
Butcher and fishmonger
Il y a un peu plus d'un kilo. Ça vous va ?
It’s a little over a kilo. Is that all right?
You
Oui, c'est parfait, merci.
Yes, that’s perfect, thanks.
Next door, the fish lies on crushed ice. You’d like to be sure it’s fresh.
You
Ce poisson est du jour ?
Is this fish fresh today?
Butcher and fishmonger
Qu'est-ce que ce sera pour vous ?
What can I get you?
You
J'en voudrais deux, s'il vous plaît.
I’d like two of those, please.
Butcher and fishmonger
Je vous les prépare ?
Shall I prepare them for you?
You
Vous pouvez me vider le poisson ?
Could you gut the fish for me?
Butcher and fishmonger
Ce sera prêt dans dix minutes.
It’ll be ready in ten minutes.
You
D'accord, je repasse dans dix minutes.
All right, I’ll come back in ten minutes.

Which French phrases do you need?

Je vous sers ?
Can I help you?
Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez pour ce soir ?
What would you recommend for tonight?
Je cuisine pour six personnes. Combien dois-je prendre ?
I’m cooking for six people. How much should I get?
Il me faut un morceau qui convient à une cuisson lente.
I need a cut that’s good for slow cooking.
Vous pouvez me hacher ça, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you mince this for me, please?
Ce poisson est du jour ?
Is this fish fresh today?
J'en voudrais deux, s'il vous plaît.
I’d like two of those, please.
Vous pouvez enlever les arêtes, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you take out the bones, please?
Vous pouvez me vider le poisson ?
Could you gut the fish for me?
Ça se garde combien de temps au frigo ?
How long does it keep in the fridge?

What is worth knowing in France?

At the counter

1
Say “Bonjour” and wait your turn: the counter is served in order.
2
Say what you want, and how much: a weight, a number of pieces, or how many people.
I’d like two of those, please.
3
Ask for it cut, minced, gutted or boned.
Could you gut the fish for me?
4
Pay at the counter or at the till, then take your parcel.

Ask how to cook it

Butchers and fishmongers like to be asked. Tell them what you’re cooking and they’ll suggest a cut, and how long to cook it.

Comment on cuisine ça ?

How do you cook this?

Count in people

Instead of a weight, you can say how many are eating. The seller knows how much that takes, so you don’t need to work it out.

Je cuisine pour six personnes. Combien dois-je prendre ?

I’m cooking for six people. How much should I get?

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?: “Je vous sers ?” (Can I help you); “Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez pour ce soir ?” (What would you recommend for tonight); “Je cuisine pour six personnes. Combien dois-je prendre ?” (I’m cooking for six people. How much should I get). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in France. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in French

All situations in French

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.