Essential Colors - Start Simple
Master basic colors before the fancy shades
In my boutique, every day starts with colors. "Je cherche un sac rouge" - I'm looking for a red bag. That's all you need! Forget about "bordeaux" and "écarlate" for now. Let's master the basics that actually help you shop.
The Essential 12 Colors
Rouge
Red
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Pronunciation: roozh
Un sac rouge
Bleu
Blue
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Pronunciation: bluh
Une écharpe bleue
Vert
Green
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Pronunciation: vehr
Un chapeau vert
Jaune
Yellow
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Pronunciation: zhohn
Une robe jaune
Noir
Black
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Pronunciation: nwahr
Un sac noir
Blanc
White
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Pronunciation: blahn
Une chemise blanche
Gris
Gray
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Pronunciation: gree
Un pull gris
Rose
Pink
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Pronunciation: rohz
Une carte rose
Marron
Brown
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Pronunciation: mah-rõ
Des chaussures marron
Orange
Orange
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Pronunciation: o-ronzh
Des chaussures orange (invariable)
Violet
Purple
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Pronunciation: vee-oh-leh
Un sac violet
Beige
Beige
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Pronunciation: bezh
Une veste beige
Color Agreement - The Shopping Rule
Most colors agree with what you're describing:
• Masculine: un sac vert (a green bag)
• Feminine: une écharpe verte (a green scarf)
• Masculine plural: des sacs verts (green bags)
• Feminine plural: des écharpes vertes (green scarves)
Colors from nouns are invariable: orange, marron, turquoise, kaki never change!
• Un sac orange, une écharpe orange, des sacs orange - always the same.
Margot's Shortcut:
When shopping, just point and say the color. "Je voudrais ça, en bleu" (I'd like that, in blue). Grammar comes later - getting what you want comes first!
Sizes & Measurements
From petit to grand - describing what you need
Size questions are the most common in my shop. "C'est trop grand" - it's too big. "Vous avez en plus petit?" - do you have it smaller? These phrases will save you every time you shop in France.
Basic Size Words
Petit(e)
Small
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Pronunciation: puh-tee / puh-teet
Un petit sac
Grand(e)
Big / Large
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Pronunciation: grahn / grahnd
Une grande écharpe
Moyen(ne)
Medium
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Pronunciation: mwah-yan / mwah-yen
Taille moyenne
Trop grand(e)
Too big
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Pronunciation: troh gron/grond
C'est trop grand
Trop petit(e)
Too small
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Pronunciation: troh puh-tee/teet
C'est trop petit
Parfait(e)
Perfect
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Pronunciation: par-feh / par-fet
C'est parfait!
Quelle est votre taille?
What clothing size are you?
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Pronunciation: kel eh votr tay
Tailles 36-44, S/M/L
Quelle est votre pointure?
What shoe size are you?
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Pronunciation: kel eh votr pwan-tyr
Pointure 36-46
Ça me va / Ça ne me va pas
It fits me / It doesn't fit
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Pronunciation: sah muh vah / sah nuh muh vah pah
After trying on
Plus grand / Plus petit
Bigger / Smaller
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Pronunciation: ploo grahn / ploo puh-tee
Comparing sizes
Asking About Sizes
Quelle taille?
What size?
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Pronunciation: kel tie
Shop worker asks this
Vous avez en plus petit?
Do you have it smaller?
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Pronunciation: voo zah-vay on ploo puh-tee
Getting smaller size
Vous avez en plus grand?
Do you have it bigger?
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Pronunciation: voo zah-vay on ploo gron
Getting larger size
Je peux essayer?
Can I try it?
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Pronunciation: zhuh puh eh-say-yay
Trying things on
Shopping Phrases - Get What You Want
From browsing to buying
These are the phrases I hear every single day in my boutique. Master these and you can shop anywhere in France with confidence. No complicated grammar - just practical phrases that work.
Essential Shopping Phrases
Combien ça coûte?
How much does it cost?
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Pronunciation: kom-bee-an sah koot
Most important question
Je cherche...
I'm looking for...
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Pronunciation: zhuh shehrsh
Starting your search
Je voudrais...
I would like...
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Pronunciation: zhuh voo-dreh
Polite request
Je prends ça
I'll take this
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Pronunciation: zhuh pron sah
Deciding to buy
C'est trop cher
It's too expensive
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Pronunciation: seh troh shehr
Honest reaction
Vous acceptez les cartes?
Do you take cards?
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Pronunciation: voo zak-sep-tay lay kart
Payment question
Je peux l'échanger?
Can I exchange it?
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Pronunciation: zhuh puh lay-shon-zhay
Exchange policy
Je voudrais un reçu
I'd like a receipt
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Pronunciation: zhuh voo-dreh uhn ruh-sü
Proof of purchase
Vous prenez la carte?
Do you take card?
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Pronunciation: voo pruh-nay lah kart
CB / sans contact
C'est en solde?
Is it on sale?
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Pronunciation: seh ton sold
Looking for deals
Everyday Objects in the Shop
The things you'll actually want to buy
My boutique is full of these items. Learn their names and you can point and ask with confidence. Notice how each one is either masculine (un/le) or feminine (une/la) - that matters when you describe colors and sizes!
Common Shop Items
(m)
Un sac
A bag
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Pronunciation: uhn sak
Masculine noun
(f)
Une écharpe
A scarf
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Pronunciation: oon ay-sharp
Feminine noun
(m)
Un chapeau
A hat
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Pronunciation: uhn shah-poh
Masculine noun
(f)
Une carte postale
A postcard
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Pronunciation: oon kart pos-tal
Feminine noun
(m)
Un livre
A book
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Pronunciation: uhn lee-vruh
Masculine noun
(m)
Un bijou
A piece of jewelry
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Pronunciation: uhn bee-zhoo
Masculine noun
Describing Things - Make Your Opinions Clear
Say what you like (and what you don't)
Shopping is all about opinions! "C'est joli" - it's pretty. "C'est parfait" - it's perfect. These little phrases make shopping so much more fun and help shop workers understand exactly what you want.
Useful Shopping Adjectives
Joli(e)
Pretty
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Pronunciation: zhoh-lee
C'est joli!
Beau/Belle
Beautiful
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Pronunciation: boh / bell
C'est beau!
Cher/Chère
Expensive
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Pronunciation: shehr
C'est cher
Bon marché
Cheap / Inexpensive
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Pronunciation: bon mar-shay
C'est bon marché
Unique
Unique
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Pronunciation: oo-neek
C'est unique!
Pratique
Practical
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Pronunciation: prah-teek
C'est pratique
Margot's Shopping Secret:
The phrase "C'est parfait!" (It's perfect!) makes any shop worker smile. Use it when you find what you want and watch how happy they get to help you!
Ready to Shop with Margot?
"Bravo! You've learned colors, sizes, and all the vocabulary you need to shop confidently in France. Now come practice with me in the boutique - we'll find you the perfect souvenir while perfecting your French. Every scarf, every bag, every postcard is a chance to practice!" - Margot