C'est combien ?
To ask "how much is it?" in French, you say C'est combien ?
This phrase is used to ask for the price of an item. You can also specify an object by using the structure C'est combien pour… followed by the name of the item, such as C'est combien pour ce… ?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase C'est combien ? literally translates to "It is how much?"
Which one should you use?
While C'est combien ? is a common way to ask for a price, Combien ça coûte ? is a grammatically complete alternative that utilizes the verb coûter (to cost).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
C'est combien ? is considered an informal way to ask about prices. For a more formal inquiry, you should use Quel est le prix ? Other informal variations include Ça coûte combien ? and Ça fait combien ?, the latter of which is often used to ask for a total at a market or a checkout counter.
How does it change in a sentence?
While C'est combien ? is frequently used, you can also use the grammatically complete form Combien ça coûte ? which uses the verb coûter (to cost).
Did you know?
- In a bakery or 'boulangerie', it is culturally common to greet the shopkeeper with Bonjour before asking C'est combien ?, as jumping straight to the price is often seen as impolite.
- The verb coûter used in Combien ça coûte ? shares a root with the English word 'cost'. Both derive from the Latin constare, meaning 'to stand together' or 'to be established'.
- The word combien is a combination of the words comme and bien, which literally means 'as well' or 'as good'.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, combien ça coûte ce sac à main ?Excuse me, how much does this handbag cost?
- Pourriez-vous me dire quel est le prix de cette montre ?Could you tell me the price of this watch?
- Hé, ce smartphone neuf, ça coûte combien ?Hey, how much does this new smartphone cost?
- C'est combien cette paire de chaussures ?How much is this pair of shoes?
- C'est combien ?How much is it?
- Pour ce livre, c'est combien ?For this book, how much is it?
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are at a fruit market.
- LucasJe voudrais des pommes. C'est combien ?I would like some apples. How much is it?
- ChloéC'est trois euros le kilo, Lucas.It is three euros per kilo, Lucas.
- LucasD'accord, je vais en prendre un kilo.Okay, I will take one kilo.
- ChloéTrès bien, merci.Very well, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'est, combien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
