A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "How much is it" in French
The essential French phrase to ask the price of anything when shopping, dining, or traveling.
Combien ça coûte ?
koh(n)-BYAN sa KOOTneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you're looking at an item in a shop and want to know the price, or when you're at a restaurant and need to ask about the cost of a dish. It's your go-to for any price inquiry.
Alternatives
- C'est combien ?Slightly more casual, often used when the item is obvious.
- Quel est le prix ?A bit more formal, good for official settings or written signs.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 't' in 'coûte'
The final 't' in 'coûte' is silent, so it sounds like 'coo'.
Confusing 'combien' and 'comment'
'Combien' means 'how much/many,' while 'comment' means 'how.'
A small cultural note
While 'Combien ça coûte ?' is standard, you might hear regional variations or more direct questions in very casual settings.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
how to ask price in french shop
The most common way is 'Combien ça coûte ?'. You can also use the slightly more casual 'C'est combien ?'.
combien ça coûte vs quel est le prix
'Combien ça coûte ?' is more common in everyday speech. 'Quel est le prix ?' is a bit more formal and less frequently used.
how to say how much is it in french without tu
The phrase 'Combien ça coûte ?' is neutral and works perfectly when you're using 'vous' or in any situation where you're not sure whether to use 'tu'.
How do you say 'how much' in French informally?
Informally, you can say 'C'est combien?' or simply 'Combien?'.
What does 'c'est combien' mean?
'C'est combien' directly translates to 'it is how much' and is a common way to ask for the price.
How do you ask the price of an item in French?
You can ask 'Quel est le prix?' (What is the price?) or more commonly 'C'est combien?' (How much is it?).
How to ask how much in France?
In France, you would typically ask 'C'est combien?' or 'Ça coûte combien?' to inquire about the price.
