ce sera tout
The English phrase "that will be all" is translated into French as ce sera tout.
This phrase is commonly used to indicate that a transaction is finished or that no further assistance is needed. You will often hear it used by service workers, such as waiters or shopkeepers, to conclude a transaction or by customers to signal they have finished ordering.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it will be all", where ce is "it", sera is the future tense of the verb être (to be) and tout is "all".
Which one should you use?
While ce sera tout uses the future tense, you can also use the present-tense alternative c'est tout, which means "that is all".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the future tense of the verb être to express a completed state of a transaction.
Did you know?
- In a formal French business setting, saying ce sera tout as a boss to an employee can function as a polite but firm dismissal, similar to 'you may go now'.
- The word ce originates from the Vulgar Latin 'ecce ille', which literally meant 'look at that one'.
- In some very formal French service settings, using the present tense c'est tout can sometimes sound more abrupt or dismissive than the polite, slightly more distant ce sera tout.
Examples in context
- Ce sera tout pour aujourd'hui.That will be all for today.This sentence shows how to use ce sera tout to specify that a transaction is finished for the day.Tatoeba #1445230 by sacredceltic, translation #1444779 by Spamster
- Je pense que ce sera tout pour aujourd'hui.I think that will be all for today.This sentence shows a slightly more indirect way to state that ce sera tout for the day.Tatoeba #2473999 by arnxy20, translation #2408148 by CK
- Vous désirez autre chose ? – Non merci, ce sera tout.Would you like anything else? – No, thank you, that will be all.
- Nous avons tout ce qu'il vous faut ? – Oui, c'est tout.Do we have everything you need? – Yes, that will be all.
- Est-ce que tu as besoin d'autre chose ? – Non, ça ira.Do you need anything else? – No, that will be all.
- On a ajouté tout ce dont tu avais besoin. – Super, je n'ai besoin de rien d'autre.We added everything you needed. – Great, I don't need anything else.
- Ce sera tout, merci.That will be all, thank you.
Example conversation
At a small bakery counter.
- ChloéJe voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît.I would like a croissant, please.
- LucasAutre chose pour vous, Madame ?Anything else for you, Madam?
- ChloéNon, ce sera tout.No, that will be all.
- LucasTrès bien, ça fera deux euros.Very well, that will be two euros.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ce, tout, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
