A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could i see that one" in French
Politely ask to see an item in a shop in France. Use 'celui-ci' for 'this one'.
Je pourrais voir celui-ci ?
zhuh poo-RAY vwah sel-wee-SEEneutral
French TTS · 0:01
When you're in a clothing store, a boutique, or any shop and want to examine a specific item. Point to the item as you say the phrase.
Alternatives
- Je peux voir celui-ci ?Slightly more direct, but still perfectly polite.
- Est-ce que je peux voir celui-ci ?A more structured question, good if you're a bit hesitant.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'pourrais'
The 'r' sound is in the back of your throat, not a hard English 'r'.
Missing the liaison
Make sure to link the 's' from 'pourrais' to 'voir' for smoother flow.
Wrong pronoun
Using 'tu' (e.g., 'Pourrais-tu voir...') is too familiar for a shopkeeper you don't know.
A small cultural note
In France, it's very common to ask to see items rather than just picking them up yourself, especially in smaller or more upscale shops.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say 'that one' instead of 'this one'?
Use 'celui-là' for 'that one' if the item is further away. So, 'Je pourrais voir celui-là ?'.
What if I want to see multiple items?
You can say 'Je pourrais voir ceux-ci ?' for multiple items that are close. For multiple items further away, use 'ceux-là'.
Can I just point and say 'Celui-ci'?
While understood, adding 'Je pourrais voir' makes it a polite request rather than a demand.
