carte de crédit
/kaʁ.t(ə) də kʁe.di/feminine
The English phrase "credit card" is carte de crédit in French.
carte de crédit refers to a card connected to a credit account used to purchase goods or services. In casual conversation, French speakers often shorten this to just carte when the context of making a payment is already clear.
Meaning: card connected to a credit account used to buy goods or services (noun)
Which one should you use?
In many French-speaking contexts, it is important to distinguish between a carte de crédit and a carte de débit (debit card).
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing that you are paying by card, it is common to use the preposition par followed by carte, such as in the phrase par carte.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʁ.t(ə) də kʁe.di/
Did you know?
- Until the late 20th century, the concept of a carte de crédit was far less common in France than the carnet de chèques, or checkbook.
- If you are in a shop in France, you might see a sign that says Carte Bancaire or CB, which is the specific term for the national payment system rather than a generic 'credit card'.
- The French word carte is a cognate of the English word 'charter'. Both derive from the Latin word charta meaning a piece of paper.
Examples in context
- Je paye par carte de crédit.I pay by credit card.This sentence shows how to use carte de crédit to say you are paying by credit card.Tatoeba #12669993 by Olcyx, translation #8344091 by Ergulis
- Il épuisa sa carte de crédit.He maxed out her credit card.This sentence uses carte de crédit to describe maxing out a card.Tatoeba #1706531 by sacredceltic, translation #1690688 by Spamster
- J'ai perdu ma carte de crédit.I lost my credit card.This sentence shows how to express that you have lost your carte de crédit.Tatoeba #5377454 by Aiji, translation #2819451 by Hybrid
- Acceptez-vous la carte de crédit?Do you accept credit cards?
- J'ai oublié ma CB, est-ce que tu peux payer?I forgot my credit card, can you pay?
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are at a restaurant paying the bill.
- ChloéEst-ce que vous acceptez la carte de crédit ?Do you accept credit cards?
- HugoOui, nous acceptons toutes les cartes.Yes, we accept all cards.
- ChloéParfait, je vais utiliser ma carte de crédit.Perfect, I will use my credit card.
- HugoTrès bien, insérez-la ici, s'il vous plaît.Very well, insert it here, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “credit card” translations and entries carte de crédit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carte, crédit, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
