petite monnaie
The English phrase "spare change" is translated into French as petite monnaie.
petite monnaie refers to a small amount of coins. When you are talking about a specific amount of change that one has on hand, it is common to use the definite article to say la petite monnaie (the spare change).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of petite (small) and monnaie (money/change).
Which one should you use?
While petite monnaie refers to the concept of small coins, you should use the form de la monnaie if you are asking someone if they have any spare change available, such as in the question Avez-vous de la monnaie ?
Did you know?
- In a metaphorical sense, the phrase petite monnaie can be used to describe something insignificant or a trivial matter, similar to the English expression 'small fry'.
- The word monnaie comes from the Latin monēta, which was the name of the temple of Juno Moneta in Rome where coins were first minted.
- In French, if you are unable to give exact change, you might hear the phrase faire l'appoint, which means to provide the precise amount of monnaie required.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, auriez-vous de la monnaie ?Excuse me, would you have some spare change?
- Pardonnez-moi, pourriez-vous me donner un peu de monnaie ?Excuse me, could you give me some spare change?
- Tu as de la monnaie ?Do you have spare change?
- Est-ce que vous auriez un euro ?Would you have one euro?
- Je n'ai plus de petite monnaie sur moi.I don't have any spare change on me anymore.
- Il a donné sa petite monnaie au sans-abri.He gave his spare change to the homeless person.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are at a bakery.
- LéaHugo, est-ce que tu as de la petite monnaie ?Hugo, do you have some spare change?
- HugoNon, je n'ai que des billets.No, I only have bills.
- LéaDommage, je n'ai pas de monnaie non plus.Too bad, I don't have any change either.
- HugoJe vais payer avec ma carte.I will pay with my card.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries monnaie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
