magasins
The English phrase "shops" is translated into French as magasins.
magasins refers to places where goods or services are sold to customers. While magasins is a general term, you may encounter other specific words for different types of establishments. For example, boutiques refers to trendy and specialized shops and commerces is a wide-scope term that encompasses shops and various other commercial establishments. If you are looking for specific food-related shops, you might use boulangerie for a bakery, poissonnerie for a fishmonger or supérette for a small convenience store or mini-market.
Which one should you use?
While magasins is the standard word for shops, boutiques is a common synonym often used to describe smaller, more upscale or more specialized shops.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France and Belgium, the word charcuterie denotes a shop specializing in selling cured meats, cold cuts and other delicacies.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form of the word is magasin. The plural form magasins is created by adding an s to the singular form.
Did you know?
- The English word 'magazine' comes from the same root as magasin, as both originally described a place where military supplies were stored.
- While magasin means 'shop' today, it originally referred to a warehouse or storehouse for goods, derived from the Arabic word makhāzin.
- If a shop is described as being in a zone commerciale, it is not a single building but an entire area or district dedicated to large retail outlets and big-box stores.
Examples in context
- Ouvre tous les magasins.Open all the shops.This sentence is useful for practicing the command to open all the magasins.Tatoeba #13338109 by genes1s, translation #9826968 by Ergulis
- Les magasins sont fermés.The shops are closed.This sentence describes the state of magasins being closed.Tatoeba #7724482 by felix63, translation #4496620 by CK
- Les magasins sont ouverts.The shops are open.This sentence describes the state of magasins being open.Tatoeba #7756835 by felix63, translation #9105764 by Lebensfreude
- Je dois aller aux magasins pour acheter des provisions.I have to go to the shops to buy groceries.
- Elle aime explorer toutes les boutiques du quartier.She enjoys exploring all the shops in the neighborhood.
- Les commerces de cette rue sont ouverts jusqu'à tard le soir.The shops on this street are open until late in the evening.
- J'achèterai un croissant à la boulangerie.I will buy a croissant at the bakery.
- Je dois passer à la supérette pour acheter du lait.I have to stop by the convenience store to buy milk.
- Je suis allé dans une échoppe artisanale pour acheter des produits locaux.I went to an artisanal shop to buy local products.
- Nous avons acheté du jambon à la charcuterie.We bought some ham at the deli shop.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Lucas are planning a shopping trip in the city.
- ChloéOù sont les meilleurs magasins ici ?Where are the best shops here?
- LucasIl y a beaucoup de magasins dans ce quartier.There are many shops in this neighborhood.
- ChloéLucas, tu veux aller dans ces magasins ?Lucas, do you want to go to these shops?
- LucasOui, j'ai besoin de nouveaux vêtements.Yes, I need new clothes.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
