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How to Say ‘Will you have it at the counter or on the terrace?’ in French

Vous le prenez au comptoir ou en terrasse ?

voo luh pruh-NAY oh kohn-TWAHR oo AHN teh-rass

[voo luh pruh-NAY oh kohn-TWAHR oo AHN teh-rass]

🇫🇷 In France: In many French cafés, a coffee drunk standing at the counter costs noticeably less than the same coffee at a table or on the terrace. That's why the server asks.

Phrase Breakdown

Vous le prenez

voo luh pruh-NAY

Will you have it

'Prendre' is the usual verb for having a drink. 'Le' means 'it'.

Example

Vous le prenez ici ?

Will you have it here?

Words in this phrase

Vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

[luh]

it / him (direct object, masculine)

Direct object pronoun. Refers to a masculine noun like “l’anime” or “l’épisode” (masculine).

Example

On pourrait le regarder en VO.

We could watch it in the original version.

prenez

[pruh-NAY]

have / take (you take)

'Vous' form of 'prendre'; here means to have your drink.

Example

Vous prenez du sucre ?

Do you take sugar?

au comptoir

oh kohn-TWAHR

at the counter

This means standing at the bar. Don't pronounce the 'p': 'oh kon-twar'.

Example

On boit au comptoir.

We drink at the counter.

Words in this phrase

[oh]

at the

A phrase used to indicate location, time, or a condition.

Example

Elle est au parc.

She is at the park.

comptoir

[kohn-TWAHR]

counter / bar

Masculine noun for the bar counter where you order.

Example

Je bois un café au comptoir.

I drink a coffee at the counter.

ou en terrasse ?

oo AHN teh-rass

or on the terrace?

'Terrasse' is the outdoor seating area. Say 'oo on teh-rass'.

Example

On mange en terrasse.

We're eating on the terrace.

Words in this phrase

[oo]

A conjunction used to offer an alternative or another option.

Example

Ou en terrasse si vous préférez.

Or on the terrace if you prefer.

[AHN]

on / outside

Preposition; 'en terrasse' means on the outdoor terrace.

Example

On mange en terrasse.

We eat on the terrace.

terrasse

[teh-rass]

terrace

The outdoor seating area of a café or restaurant.

Example

En terrasse, il y a plus de soleil.

On the terrace, there is more sun.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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