💳❓

How to Say ‘Can I pay by card?’ in French

Je peux payer par carte ?

zhuh puh pay-yay par kart

[zhuh puh pay-yay par kart]

🇫🇷 In France: Cards are widely accepted, but some small cafés set a minimum, often around €5 to €10, so asking for a cheap coffee is wise.

Phrase Breakdown

Je peux payer

zhuh puh pay-yay

Can I pay

'Je peux' means 'I can'. Say 'payer' as 'pé-yé'.

Example

Je peux payer en espèces ?

Can I pay in cash?

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

peux

[puh]

can / may

From the verb pouvoir; used to ask permission or say what you are able to do.

Example

Est-ce que je peux vous parler après le cours ?

May I speak to you after class?

payer

[pay-yay]

pay

Infinitive verb meaning 'to pay.'

Example

Je peux payer par carte au restaurant ?

Can I pay by card at the restaurant?

par carte ?

par kart

by card?

'Par carte' means by bank card. Roll the French 'r' lightly in the throat and raise your voice at the end.

Example

On accepte les paiements par carte.

We accept card payments.

Words in this phrase

par

[par]

Preposition meaning 'by' or 'with' in payment expressions.

Example

Je peux payer par carte ou en espèces ?

Can I pay by card or in cash?

carte

[kart]

card

Usually means bank card in shopping contexts.

Example

Vous acceptez la carte bancaire ?

Do you accept bank card?

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.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer