Basic numbers: Paying the grocery bill

🇫🇷 Cashiers often ask for small change so they can give you back round notes. Dig for coins if you can, but saying no is perfectly fine.

💬 When a question is phrased negatively, like Vous n'auriez pas…?, answer Si to mean yes. A plain oui here sounds slightly off.

🇫🇷 Said while digging through your wallet for coins, it buys you a moment without seeming rude. Cashiers are used to it.

💬 In vingt-sept, both the t of vingt and the t of sept are pronounced: (vant-set). On its own, vingt keeps its t silent: (van).

💬 Rendre means to give back. It's the verb behind rendre la monnaie "to give change".

💬 Ticket means a shop receipt here. The same word is also used for a metro or bus ticket.

💬 This question is just a statement with your voice rising at the end. Je peux payer par carte ? "Can I pay by card?" works the same way.

🇫🇷 Receipts are often not printed unless you ask, or the cashier may ask Vous voulez le ticket ? "Do you want the receipt?".

💬 The final p is silent, so beaucoup sounds like (boh-koo).

🇫🇷 This is a very standard friendly closing from staff to customers, and it is equally natural to say back.

🇫🇷 This is the standard reply when the cashier wishes you Bonne journée "have a good day". It's a quick, expected exchange that closes the purchase.

🇫🇷 Say it to the cashier as you leave, even in a busy supermarket. Walking off in silence feels abrupt to French ears.