magasin
/ma.ɡa.zɛ̃/
The French word for store is magasin.
magasin is a general noun used to refer to a store or shop.
Meaning: shop (noun)
Which one should you use?
While magasin is a general term for a store, boutique is often used for smaller, specialized or more high-end shops. If you are looking for a specific type of shop, you might use more precise terms like librairie for a bookstore or boulangerie for a bakery.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In southwestern France, particularly in the Bordeaux region, the term Échoppe is used to refer to a small shop.
How does it change in a sentence?
magasin is a masculine noun. Because of this, when you want to say "of the store", you use the contraction du magasin (de + le). The plural form of magasin is magasins.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: /ma.ɡa.zɛ̃/.
Did you know?
- The English word 'magazine' is a direct sibling of magasin. Both come from a word meaning 'storehouse', as early magazines were stores of gunpowder or military supplies.
- In France, the term librairie refers to a store that sells books. It does not mean 'library', which is bibliothèque.
- French differentiates between a boulangerie, where bread is baked, and a pâtisserie, which specializes in cakes and pastries, though one magasin often does both.
Examples in context
- Va au magasin !Go to the store!This sentence uses magasin to give a command to go to the store.Tatoeba #1123077 by sacredceltic, translation #1121840 by cntrational
- Allez au magasin !Go to the store.Tatoeba #1123078 by sacredceltic, translation #1937077 by CK
- Où est le magasin ?Where is the store?This sentence uses magasin to ask for the location of the store.Tatoeba #4736613 by lovasoa, translation #2312520 by Adelpa
- Je vais à la boutique pour acheter un cadeauI'm going to the store to buy a gift
- Je dois aller au magasin d'électroniqueI need to go to the electronics store
- J'achète mes fruits et légumes chez le petit commerce près de chez moiI buy my fruits and vegetables at the small local store near my house
- Je te retrouve à l'échoppe du marchéI'll meet you at the market store
- Je suis allé(e) dans le magasin pour acheter des vêtementsI went to the store to buy clothes
- une belle boutiqueA beautiful store
- un grand magasinA large department store
- 282 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are walking in the city.
- LéaHugo, regarde ce beau magasin !Hugo, look at this beautiful store!
- HugoOui, ce magasin est magnifique.Yes, this store is magnificent.
- LéaEst-ce que tu veux entrer ?Do you want to go inside?
- HugoOui, allons-y !Yes, let's go!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry magasin, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries magasin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
