French · A2 (Elementary)
Shopping in French: Words & Phrases
Quick answer: The most useful French words for shopping are le supermarché (the supermarket), la promotion (the special offer) and la réduction (the discount / reduction). The full French shopping phrase list with example sentences is below.
The essential French vocabulary for shopping, with example sentences and English translations. This is A2 (Elementary) material — exactly the kind of practical language you need when you're learning French to live, work, or settle abroad.
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Key shopping vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le supermarché | the supermarket |
| la promotion | the special offer |
| la réduction | the discount / reduction |
| la taille | the size (clothing) |
| échanger | to exchange / swap |
| le reçu | the receipt |
| la garantie | the warranty |
| le rayon | the aisle / department (in store) |
| la marque | the brand |
| rembourser | to refund |
Example sentences
C'est en promotion cette semaine.
It is on offer this week.
Il y a une réduction de 20%.
There is a 20% discount.
Quelle taille faites-vous?
What size are you?
Je voudrais échanger ce manteau.
I would like to exchange this coat.
Avez-vous votre reçu?
Do you have your receipt?
Pouvez-vous me rembourser?
Can you refund me?
How to actually learn these
Reading a vocabulary list is not the same as being able to use the words when it counts. Research on adult language acquisition consistently shows that vocabulary retained through contextual use — hearing a word, producing it under mild pressure, and being corrected when you get it wrong — transfers to real speech far more effectively than passive list review. The fastest way to make vocabulary like this stick is to practise it in the actual conversations where it comes up: not drills, but a real back-and-forth where you have to retrieve the word and say it aloud. Language Lab turns vocabulary like this into voiced, real-life scenarios with Sonia, a live AI language tutor who holds real conversations, corrects you in context, and remembers the specific words you keep getting wrong across sessions. The vocabulary stops being something you read and becomes something you say — automatically, under pressure, when you actually need it.
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