A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Could you wrap it as a gift" in French
Ask a shopkeeper to gift-wrap your purchase with this polite French phrase.
Pourriez-vous me l'emballer en cadeau ?
poo-ree-ay-VOO muh lahn-bah-LAY ahn cah-DOHneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're buying a present in a shop and want it beautifully wrapped. It's perfect for boutiques, department stores, or any place selling items meant as gifts.
Alternatives
- Vous pouvez me l'emballer en cadeau ?Slightly more direct, still polite.
- Est-ce que vous pouvez me l'emballer en cadeau ?A more standard question structure, very common.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'pourriez-vous'
The 'r' sound is in the back of the throat, not like English 'r'.
Forgetting 'en cadeau'
This specifies 'as a gift'; without it, they might just wrap it for transport.
Using 'tu'
Unless you know the shop assistant well, 'vous' is the correct form.
A small cultural note
Gift-wrapping is common in France, especially around holidays, and shops often offer it as a service, sometimes for a small fee.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to ask for gift wrap in French?
Say 'Pourriez-vous me l'emballer en cadeau ?' This politely requests gift wrapping.
Is gift wrapping common in French stores?
Yes, many stores offer gift wrapping, particularly for clothing or luxury items. It's a standard service, though sometimes an extra charge applies.
What if I just want it wrapped for travel?
You would ask for it to be 'emballé pour le voyage' or simply 'emballé' if it's obvious you're taking it with you.
