A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could i look at this closer" in French
Ask to examine an item more closely in a shop with this polite and common French phrase.
Est-ce que je peux regarder ça de plus près ?
es kuh zhuh puh ruh-gar-DAY sah duh ploo PREHneutral
French TTS · 0:01
When you're in a boutique, a market, or any shop and want a better look at an item before deciding to buy. Use it when you're holding something or pointing to it.
Alternatives
- Je peux regarder ça de plus près ?Slightly more casual, omits the 'Est-ce que je' structure.
- Puis-je regarder ça de plus près ?More formal, uses inversion, less common in everyday speech.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'près'
The 'è' sound is open, like in 'bed', and the 's' is silent.
Confusing 'près' and 'proche'
'Près' means 'near' or 'close by', while 'proche' is an adjective meaning 'close' or 'nearby'.
Forgetting 'de'
You need 'de' to connect 'plus près' to the thing you're looking at.
A small cultural note
French shopkeepers are generally happy to let you examine items, especially in smaller boutiques. Don't hesitate to ask!
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How do I ask to see something specific?
You can point and say 'Je peux regarder ça ?' (Can I look at this?). Then follow up with 'de plus près' if you want a closer look.
Is 'Est-ce que je peux' always necessary?
No, you can often omit 'Est-ce que je' for a slightly more direct, but still polite, request like 'Je peux regarder ça de plus près ?'.
What if I want to hold the item?
You can say 'Je peux le tenir ?' (Can I hold it?) before asking to look at it more closely.
