Which French phrases matter most here?

“C'est à moi ?” (Is it my turn); “Je crois que c'est mon tour.” (I think it’s my turn); “Allez-y, je vous en prie.” (Go ahead, please). 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 buying fruit and veg at the market in France

At a busy stall, ask who’s last: “Qui est le dernier, s'il vous plaît ?”. When it’s your turn the seller asks “Je vous sers ?”. Order by weight, “Un kilo de pommes de terre, s'il vous plaît”, and ask “C'est combien le kilo ?” if prices aren’t shown. Then pay.

Try it · about two minutes

At a busy market stall you work out who’s last in the queue, then buy fruit and vegetables by the kilo.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

The stall is crowded and there is no ticket machine, just a loose group of people waiting.
You
Qui est le dernier, s'il vous plaît ?
Who is last, please?
Stallholder
Je vous sers ?
Can I help you?
You
Un kilo de pommes de terre, s'il vous plaît.
A kilo of potatoes, please.
Stallholder
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 très bien, merci.
Yes, that’s fine, thanks.
Stallholder
Et avec ça ?
Anything else with that?
You
Vous avez des abricots ?
Do you have any apricots?
Stallholder
Pour manger aujourd'hui ou plus tard ?
To eat today, or later?
You
Plutôt pour ce soir, merci.
More for tonight, thanks.
Stallholder
Ça fait douze euros cinquante.
That’s twelve euros fifty.
You
Je peux payer par carte ?
Can I pay by card?

Which French phrases do you need?

C'est à moi ?
Is it my turn?
Je crois que c'est mon tour.
I think it’s my turn.
Allez-y, je vous en prie.
Go ahead, please.
Je vous sers ?
Can I help you?
Un kilo de pommes de terre, s'il vous plaît.
A kilo of potatoes, please.
Un demi-kilo, s'il vous plaît.
Half a kilo, please.
C'est combien le kilo ?
How much is it per kilo?
Un peu moins, s'il vous plaît.
A bit less, please.
Je peux les choisir moi-même ?
Can I pick them myself?
Il me les faut mûrs pour demain.
I need them ripe for tomorrow.

What is worth knowing in France?

How a stall works

1
Say “Bonjour”, ask who’s last and wait behind that person. If you’re not sure whose turn it is, ask.
Is it my turn?
2
When the seller turns to you, order by weight: a kilo, a half kilo.
A kilo of potatoes, please.
3
Pay at the stall. Cash is the safe bet, so ask before you reach for a card.
Can I pay by card?

Letting someone go first

If you and another customer step up to the seller at the same moment, one of you steps back and says it politely.

Allez-y, je vous en prie.

Go ahead, please.

Who picks the fruit

At some stalls the seller chooses the fruit for you. If you’d rather pick your own, ask first.

Je peux les choisir moi-même ?

Can I pick them myself?

Questions about this situation

Which French phrases matter most here?: “C'est à moi ?” (Is it my turn); “Je crois que c'est mon tour.” (I think it’s my turn); “Allez-y, je vous en prie.” (Go ahead, please). 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

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.