A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Do you have any sales" in French
Ask if there are any sales or discounts happening in French shops.
Est-ce qu'il y a des soldes ?
ess keel-eez-ah day SOLDneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you enter a store and want to know if there are any promotions or special offers currently available. It's a polite way to inquire about potential savings before you start browsing.
Alternatives
- Il y a des soldes ?Slightly more direct and common in very casual conversation.
- Vous faites des soldes ?More directly asks if the shop itself is participating in sales.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'est-ce qu'il'
The 't' in 'est' links to 'ce', and the 'l' in 'il' links to 'est' to make 'ess-keel'.
Silent 's' in 'soldes'
The final 's' in 'soldes' is pronounced, sounding like 'sold'.
A small cultural note
France has official 'Soldes' periods twice a year, but individual stores might have other promotions ('promotions', 'réductions') at other times.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What is the difference between soldes and promotions?
Soldes are official, seasonal sales with significant discounts. Promotions are more general price reductions or special offers that can happen anytime.
How to ask about discounts on a specific item?
You can ask 'Est-ce qu'il y a une réduction sur ceci ?' (Is there a discount on this?) once you've found something specific.
When are the official sales in France?
The winter sales typically start in early January, and the summer sales usually begin in late June. Dates can vary slightly by region.
