prix
/pʁi/masculine
The English phrase 'price' is translated into French as prix.
prix refers to the cost required to gain possession of something. When you are negotiating a price, you can use the phrase C'est trop cher to say 'It's too expensive' or Pouvez-vous faire un rabais? to ask 'Can you give a discount?'
Meaning: cost required to gain possession of something (noun)
Which one should you use?
While prix is the standard word for price, other terms are more specific: Tarif is used for official or regulated prices like transportation fares or event tickets and Coût is used when discussing the expense or financial burden of something, such as in the phrase le coût d'une voiture (the cost of a car).
How does it change in a sentence?
prix is a masculine noun, so it is used with the masculine article le, as in le prix.
How do you pronounce it?
/pʁi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly pronounce the 'x' at the end of prix, but the 'x' should be silent.
Did you know?
- The word prix shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'back', originating from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'back' or 'to go back'.
- In French, prix does not only mean 'price' but is also the standard word for a 'prize' or 'award', such as the Prix Nobel.
- In French grammar, prix is an invariable noun, meaning its spelling does not change when it moves from singular to plural.
Examples in context
- Tout a un prix.Everything has a price.This sentence illustrates the general concept that everything has a price.Tatoeba #1914475 by Rovo, translation #3368372 by Hybrid
- Devine le prix ?Can you guess the price?This sentence is useful for asking if someone can guess the price.Tatoeba #129290 by sacredceltic, translation #276974 by CK
- Le prix est exact.The price is right.This sentence is useful for stating that the price is correct.Tatoeba #1521148 by sacredceltic, translation #1520825 by Spamster
- 289 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Chloé are shopping for a new lamp.
- HugoRegarde cette lampe, elle est magnifique !Look at this lamp, it is magnificent!
- ChloéOui, mais je trouve que le prix est trop élevé.Yes, but I find that the price is too high.
- HugoOn peut peut-être attendre les soldes.Maybe we can wait for the sales.
- ChloéC'est une bonne idée, Hugo.That is a good idea, Hugo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “price” translations and entries prix, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries prix, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
