10 French phrases that will save you money in Paris

Asking or a "carafe d’eau" (carafe of water) comes in handy at cafes and restaurants. Photo: John Cohen

So you’re feeling like you’ve mastered the “bonjours” and “mercis”? Maybe it’s time to kick it up a notch. Sometimes in Paris, hand signals don’t always work when you are shopping or dining in a café.

We know the feeling when you want to say, “No, stop, please, I didn’t want the €65 box of chocolate,” and sometimes you just can’t find the words.

So here are a few simple phrases to keep in your back pocket when purchasing items or dining out so that you can avoid spending too much. Bon courage!

1. Ça coute combien? – This costs how much?

Use this one when you don’t see a price or if you’re unsure. This one works wonders at the flea market where, once you know the price, you can see how good your haggling skills are. I just hope your numbers are up to snuff

Relate: Shopping tips for flea market success in Paris

2. Tout compris – All included

You may not actually have to say this out loud, but you should know what it means. You’ll see this one on most receipts as in “Toutes taxes comprises” (TTC) or “service tout compris.” What’s that mean for you? No worries about leaving a centime more!

3. …le moins cher? – …the least expensive?

Use this one if, for example, you are at the wine shop and you want the cheapest wine. It’s a good one to throw on the table when there’s any doubt about pricing. It’s not really sophisticated, but if you’re counting pennies, there’s no shame.

4. Carafe de – Pitcher of

This one’s timeless. Wine or water—you don’t want it too fancy. A “carafe d’eau” is tap water that’s free. A “carafe de vin” is house wine that can be as little as a third the price of a bottle. And both are perfectly fine, if not delicious.

5. Une poignée de – A handful

I use this one at the market when I just want a few cherries, apricots or whatever other seasonal produce is available. Often the market merchants will bag your fruit and veggies for you, meaning you can’t pick your own—after all, they know best.

But I don’t want to ask them for ten cherries or twenty green beans, and I am not always good at guessing how many strawberries are in a kilogram. Just a handful, or a “bonne poignée” for a big handful. Just say “un peu plus” if you want a bit more than they bag.

Related: 10 tips for shoppers at Paris markets

6. Ça suffit – That’s enough

You’ll hear parents yelling this at their bickering children, but hopefully you won’t encounter a French scolding. Instead, try it at the market, the cheese shop or any store where someone is serving you and doling out or portioning a good. When my market guy is spooning out olives, I say, “Ça suffit, merci” when he’s got enough. It also works on the cheese monger as they slide their knife over a wheel of cheese indicating the size of the slice you want. But really, can you ever have enough cheese, right?

7. Supplément – Supplemental charge

This is an easy one, and one to avoid—or at least you’ve been warned. You’ll often see it as a “+5” to indicate a supplement of five euros. Often a fixed price menu will have supplements to pay for higher end items, or a taxi will have a supplement to pay for more passengers or baggage. So don’t be too surprised if the price seems a bit higher than you thought.

8. Juste quelques morceaux – Just a few pieces

Tourists aren’t always aware that many shops like Ladurée will sell you just a few pieces of sweets if you’d like, so there’s no need to get the pricey packaging set if you just wanted a bit of sugar. Whip this one out at the chocolate shop if you just want to try a few ganaches instead of taking home a pricey gift box.

It also works at any macaron shop if you only want one or two to taste (“à gouter” is to taste, in case you’re feeling brave). The shopkeeper will probably ask you how many after you say this though, so be prepared to hold up some fingers.

Related: 5 Parisian pâtisseries to satisfy your sweet tooth

9. Gratuit – Free

This one’s a no-brainer. When you see that something is “gratuit” there is a reasonably good chance that the museum/sample/brochure/tour actually is. Be wary of free things that come with strings (like the “free” tours that almost require a tip at the end). But there are plenty of museums and galleries that are indeed free, and we know a few of them!

10. Non merci, c’est trop – No thanks, that’s too much

This one might get you out of a sticky situation, or may open up the conversation towards a bit of negotiating if you’re at the flea markets. Generally, bartering isn’t something we do in Paris, but you never know. Imagine instead that the market merchant just loaded you up with three kilos of tomatoes—use this phrase to let him know that’s not what you needed.

Though if the cheese monger has already packaged your cheese and you balk at the price, it’s a bit rude to say it’s too expensive and walk away. See #1 and use it liberally.