Level: Improvers (CEFR A2–B1)

Lesson Length: 60–90 minutes

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

Shop confidently at a French market
Ask for fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat, bread and local produce
Understand weights and quantities
Ask prices and compare products
Request recommendations from stallholders
Handle simple conversations naturally
Gain confidence shopping like a local

Why Learn Market French?

French markets are one of the highlights of visiting France. Whether you’re exploring Provence, Brittany, Normandy or a small village market, knowing a few practical phrases makes shopping far more enjoyable and helps you connect with local people.

Essential Vocabulary

At the Market

le marché – market
un stand – stall
un commerçant – trader
un client – customer
un panier – basket
un sac – bag
de la monnaie – change
un reçu – receipt

Fruit

une pomme
une poire
une orange
une banane
des fraises
des raisins
une pêche
une cerise

Vegetables

une tomate
une salade
une pomme de terre
un oignon
une carotte
une courgette
un poivron
des champignons

Cheese

du brie
du camembert
du comté
du chèvre
du roquefort

Bakery

une baguette
un croissant
un pain complet
une brioche
un gâteau

Meat & Fish

du poulet
du bœuf
du porc
du poisson
des crevettes

Useful Expressions

Asking Prices

Combien coûtent les tomates ?

Combien le kilo ?

C’est combien ?

Buying Produce

Je voudrais…

Un kilo de tomates.

Deux cents grammes de fromage.

Une baguette, s’il vous plaît.

Asking for Recommendations

Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez ?

Quels sont vos meilleurs fromages ?

Quels fruits sont de saison ?

Quantity

Un kilo

Un demi-kilo

Deux cents grammes

Trois cents grammes

Une douzaine

Quelques-uns

Grammar Focus

Using En

French often replaces quantities with en.

Voulez-vous des pommes ?

Oui, j’en voudrais un kilo.

Revision of Numbers

Practise:

250 g
500 g
750 g
1 kilo
2 kilos

Dialogue

Au marché

Vendeur :

Bonjour Madame !

Cliente :

Bonjour.

Je voudrais un kilo de tomates, s’il vous plaît.

Vendeur :

Bien sûr.

Autre chose ?

Cliente :

Oui.

Deux cents grammes de chèvre.

Vendeur :

Très bien.

Cela fait quinze euros.

Cliente :

Voilà.

Merci beaucoup.

Vendeur :

Merci.

Bonne journée !

Role Play

Student A is the market trader.

Student B is shopping for a picnic.

Include:

asking prices
buying fruit
buying cheese
asking for recommendations
paying

Listening Practice

The tutor reads several authentic market conversations.

Students answer questions such as:

What did the customer buy?
How much cheese?
Which fruit?
How much did it cost?

Reading Exercise

Read a typical French market advertisement including:

opening times
seasonal produce
local cheeses
artisan bread
special offers

Students answer comprehension questions.

Speaking Practice

Students answer questions such as:

Aimez-vous les marchés ?
Que préférez-vous acheter ?
Quel est votre fromage préféré ?
Faites-vous souvent les courses au marché ?
Quel marché français aimeriez-vous visiter ?

Translation Exercise

Translate into French:

I would like one kilo of apples.
How much is the cheese?
Which fruit is in season?
Two baguettes, please.
I’ll take half a kilo.
What do you recommend?
That looks delicious.
I’ll take those.
Thank you very much.
Have a nice day.

Cultural Tip 🇫🇷

Many French markets are held once or twice a week and are at their busiest in the morning. It’s common to greet the stallholder with a friendly “Bonjour” before asking for anything. Taking a moment to chat politely is appreciated and often leads to better recommendations or local tips.

Homework

Visit a local market—or imagine you’re at one—and write 10–15 sentences in French describing what you buy. Include:

fruit
vegetables
bread
cheese
quantities
prices
your favourite purchases

Key Vocabulary to Remember

Je voudrais…
Combien le kilo ?
Un kilo de…
Un demi-kilo.
Qu’est-ce que vous me conseillez ?
Quels fruits sont de saison ?
Je prends celui-ci.
Voilà.
Merci beaucoup.
Bonne journée !

This lesson fits naturally after Booking a Hotel Room and before moving on to everyday travel topics.

It continues building the practical, real-world French that travellers are most likely to use, while introducing useful grammar and cultural insights in context.

Here is your FREE PDF to download for this lesson!