Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| combien ça coûte | /kɔ̃.bjɛ̃ sa kut/ |
| c'est combien | /s‿ɛ kɔ̃.bjɛ̃/ |
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase combien ça coûte literally translates to 'how much that costs'.
Which one should you use?
'combien ça coûte' is a standard way to ask about the price of an object, whereas c'est combien is a more direct, slightly more colloquial way to ask 'how much is it?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The expression c'est combien is a very common, informal way to ask for a price in shops or markets. For formal situations, you can use Combien cela coûte-t-il ? or the polite inquiry Pouvez-vous me dire le prix, s'il vous plaît ? If you are specifically asking about the cost of a service, the formal phrase Quel est le tarif ? is commonly used. In informal settings, you may also hear Ça coûte combien ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase combien ça coûte, ça acts as the subject 'it' and coûte is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb coûter (to cost).
Did you know?
- The word combien is actually a combination of two words: comme meaning 'as' and bien meaning 'well'. It literally traces back to the idea of 'as well' or 'how well'.
- In French markets, it is common to use c'est combien while pointing at an item, omitting the name of the product entirely.
- The word tarif is used for services like taxis or hotels, but would sound strange if used to ask the price of a piece of fruit.
Examples in context
- Combien ça coûte ?How much does it cost?This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase combien ça coûte.Tatoeba #439117 by franzmimm, translation #436193 by lukaszpp
- Combien ça coûte, ce livre ?How much does this book cost?
- Je voudrais savoir combien ça coûte.I would like to know how much it costs.
Example conversation
Léa is at a market and asks Hugo about the price of a fruit.
- LéaDis-moi, combien ça coûte, ce melon ?Tell me, how much does this melon cost?
- HugoIl coûte cinq euros.It costs five euros.
- LéaC'est un peu cher pour moi.It is a bit expensive for me.
- HugoD'accord, je peux te faire un prix.Okay, I can give you a discount.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “how much does it cost” translations and entries combien ça coûte, c'est combien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'est, c'est combien, combien, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
