payer par carte
The English phrase "pay by card" is translated into French as payer par carte.
The phrase refers to the act of using a plastic credit or debit card to pay for goods or services. To express the opposite, such as paying with physical money, you would use payer en espèces (to pay in cash). In many contexts, such as when a cashier asks for your preference, you can omit the verb payer and simply say par carte.
Which one should you use?
While payer par carte is the standard way to express this, you may encounter régler par carte in more formal contexts, as the verb régler is used when referring to settling a bill or an invoice.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can extend the phrase by adding the adjective bancaire to specify a bank card, resulting in payer par carte bancaire (to pay by bank card).
Did you know?
- In France, the term carte bleue is often used as a generic name for any bank card. It originally referred to a specific interbank system, but now it is common slang for any plastic card used to payer par carte.
- The French word payer shares a root with the English word 'pacify'. Historically, the idea was that paying a debt was a way to 'pacify' a creditor and settle a dispute.
- The verb régler, used as a formal alternative to payer, also means 'to tune' an instrument or 'to adjust' a machine. In the context of a bill, it implies 'adjusting' the account back to zero.
Examples in context
- Puis-je régler par carte?Can I pay by card?
- On peut payer par carte?Can we pay by card?
- Nous acceptons les paiements par carte.We accept card payments.
- Je voudrais payer par carte, s'il vous plaît.I would like to pay by card, please.
- Est-ce que je peux payer par carte ici ?Can I pay by card here?
- Vous pouvez payer par carte sans contact.You can pay by contactless card.
Example conversation
At a small bakery in Paris.
- ChloéBonjour, je voudrais ce croissant et ce pain.Hello, I would like this croissant and this bread.
- NathanTrès bien, cela fera trois euros.Very well, that will be three euros.
- ChloéEst-ce que je peux payer par carte ?Can I pay by card?
- NathanOui, bien sûr, approchez votre carte.Yes, of course, tap your card.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries carte, par, payer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
