liquide
/li.kid/masculine
The English phrase "cash" is translated into French as liquide.
The word liquide refers to money in the form of notes and coins. You can use the phrase en liquide to mean "in cash", such as when stating how you are paying. If you need to withdraw cash, you would say retirer de l'argent and a machine used for this is a distributeur automatique. The related verb encaisser means to exchange a check or cheque for money.
Meaning: money in the form of notes/bills and coins (noun)
Which one should you use?
While liquide is common in spoken French, the term espèces is more formal and is typically used in banking or official contexts, such as when describing a transaction en espèces (a cash transaction).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, the word sous is used to refer to cash or money.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Liquide is a masculine noun. When you want to say "some cash" in a sentence, use the partitive article du before the word, resulting in du liquide.
How do you pronounce it?
/li.kid/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the English word "cash" as a noun for physical money in French.
Did you know?
- In very informal French, the word oseille (which is a type of sorrel plant) is used as a slang term for cash.
- The term espèces refers to cash because it historically meant 'specific things' or 'actual items' rather than a promise of payment.
- The French verb encaisser can also mean 'to take a hit' or 'to endure' a blow in a figurative sense.
Examples in context
- Liquide ou carte ?Cash or charge?This example shows how to offer a choice between cash or a credit card.Tatoeba #10924183 by Micsmithel, translation #239528 by CM
- Je veux du liquide.I want cash.This sentence expresses a desire for cash.Tatoeba #2427343 by sacredceltic, translation #2247441 by CK
- Il me faut du liquide.I need some cash.This sentence expresses a need for cash.Tatoeba #1638502 by sacredceltic, translation #1638268 by Spamster
- J'aimerais régler en argent liquideI would like to pay in cash
- J'ai besoin de la tuneI need some cash
- Est-il possible de payer en espèces?Is it possible to pay in cash?
- Ce paiement doit être effectué en argent liquide.This payment must be made in cash.
- Je suis désolé, je n'ai pas de fric sur moi.I'm sorry, I don't have any cash on me.
- Je veux retirer de l'argent au distributeur automatique.I want to withdraw cash from the ATM.
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are at a small market stall.
- LéaEst-ce que vous acceptez le liquide ?Do you accept cash?
- GabrielOui, je préfère le liquide.Yes, I prefer cash.
- LéaParfait, je n'ai que du liquide aujourd'hui.Perfect, I only have cash today.
- GabrielC'est très bien, merci Léa.That's very good, thank you Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cash” translations and entries liquide, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
