Prix is the most common way to say "price" in French. But there are several other options.

As you navigate shopping, discuss finances, or simply learn more about French culture, you'll find it useful to know these different terms.

Let's look at 9 common ways to say "price" (and related concepts) in French!

The standard 'price' – prix

«Prix» is the most basic and common word for 'price' in French, referring to the monetary value of goods or services.

This word is a masculine noun. An important feature of «prix» is that its singular and plural forms are identical, always ending in 'x': le prix (the price, singular) and les prix (the prices, plural).

«Prix» is universally applicable and can be used in any context, from casual shopping conversations to formal economic discussions. It's the go-to word for 'price' in French.

To inquire about the cost of something, you'll commonly use phrases like: Quel est le prix ? (What is the price?) or C'est combien ? (How much is it?).

You can describe prices as high or low using adjectives or related terms: un prix élevé (a high price), un prix bas (a low price). You might also hear c'est cher (it's expensive) or c'est bon marché (it's cheap).

«Prix» is part of several useful expressions: hors de prix (exorbitantly expensive), à tout prix (at all costs, no matter what), and fixer un prix (to set a price).

💡 * Quel est le prix de cette robe ? (What is the price of this dress?)* Les prix ont augmenté cette année. (Prices have increased this year.)* Ce tableau est hors de prix. (This painting is exorbitantly expensive.)* Il veut réussir à tout prix. (He wants to succeed at all costs.)* Nous devons fixer un prix juste. (We must set a fair price.)

The 'rate' or 'schedule of prices' – tarif

The “rate” or “schedule of prices” – tarif

In French, the masculine noun tarif (pronounced tah-reef) refers to a "rate," a "fare," or a "schedule of prices." It's used for an official or established price for a service or a product.

You'll frequently encounter tarif when dealing with public services, transportation, hotels, telephone plans, or entry fees for museums and events. It implies a structured pricing system rather than a casual individual price.

Unlike the more general prix (price), tarif often carries the connotation of a price that is fixed, published, or officially determined. Think of a price list, a fare schedule, or a standard charge.

The plural form is tarifs. You might also come across phrases like la grille tarifaire (the price grid/schedule), le tarif réduit (the reduced rate, e.g., for students or seniors), or le plein tarif (the full price).

While both tarif and prix relate to cost, prix is a broader term for the cost of anything. Tarif is more specific, referring to a predefined rate for a service, a specific category of goods, or a particular situation.

When you want to inquire about the cost of a service or a ticket, asking "Quel est le tarif ?" is often more precise than "Quel est le prix ?" especially in contexts like public transport or service industries.

💡 * Quel est le tarif pour un billet aller-retour ? (What is the fare for a round-trip ticket?)

Les tarifs de l'hôtel varient selon la saison. (The hotel rates vary by season.)

Nous avons des tarifs spéciaux pour les groupes. (We have special rates for groups.)

Le tarif réduit est valable pour les étudiants. (The reduced rate is valid for students.)

Veuillez consulter notre grille tarifaire en ligne. (Please consult our price list online.)

The 'cost' (what something costs to produce or acquire) – coût

The French word for "cost," specifically referring to what something costs to produce or acquire, is coût.

Coût is a masculine noun, meaning the expense involved in creating, obtaining, or maintaining something. It's often associated with manufacturing, services, or personal expenses.

You'll frequently encounter it in phrases like le coût de production (the production cost), le coût de la vie (the cost of living), or le coût d'un projet (the cost of a project).

The noun coût is directly related to the verb coûter, which means "to cost." For example, Ça coûte cher (It costs a lot).

When referring to multiple expenses or different types of costs, you would use the plural form, les coûts.

💡 * Quel est le coût de fabrication de cette voiture ? (What is the manufacturing cost of this car?)* Le coût de la vie à Paris est très élevé. (The cost of living in Paris is very high.)* Ils ont réduit les coûts pour augmenter les profits. (They reduced costs to increase profits.)* Le coût de ce service inclut la main-d'œuvre et les matériaux. (The cost of this service includes labor and materials.)* Nous devons estimer les coûts avant de commencer le projet. (We need to estimate the costs before starting the project.)

The 'amount' or 'total sum' (often referring to a price) – montant

The French word montant translates to 'amount' or 'total sum' in English.

It is most frequently used to refer to a financial value, such as the total price of an item, a bill, or an invoice. Think of it as the 'total' when you're checking out at a store or looking at a statement.

Montant is a masculine noun. Therefore, any articles or adjectives associated with it must also be masculine (e.g., le montant, un montant élevé).

💡 * Quel est le montant total de la commande ? (What is the total amount of the order?)

Le montant de la facture est de 50 euros. (The amount of the bill is 50 euros.)

Veuillez vérifier le montant avant de payer. (Please check the amount before paying.)

J'ai oublié le montant exact. (I forgot the exact amount.)

The 'value' or 'worth' (often implying a price) – valeur

In French, valeur is a versatile noun that primarily translates to "value" or "worth." It can refer to intrinsic worth, monetary price, or even personal values.

Valeur is a widely used and neutral term, appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. Its meaning shifts slightly depending on the surrounding words.

It's important to remember that valeur is a feminine noun. Therefore, any adjectives or articles accompanying it must agree in gender, such as la valeur or une grande valeur.

Valeur is often used in expressions like avoir de la valeur (to be valuable), sans valeur (worthless), or les valeurs morales (moral values). It can also denote the face value of currency or a stock's value.

Understanding valeur is crucial for describing worth, price, importance, and even ethical principles in French.

💡 * Quelle est la valeur de cette antiquité ? (What is the value of this antique?)

Ce tableau a une grande valeur sentimentale pour moi. (This painting has great sentimental value for me.)

Nous partageons les mêmes valeurs. (We share the same values.)

La valeur de l'euro a fluctué cette semaine. (The value of the euro fluctuated this week.)

C'est un travail de peu de valeur. (It's a work of little worth/value.)

The 'rate' (price per unit, e.g., exchange rate) – taux

In French, taux is the primary word used for 'rate' when referring to a numerical proportion, a percentage, or a price per unit. It's essential for understanding financial, economic, and statistical contexts. Think of it as the equivalent of 'rate' in phrases like exchange rate, interest rate, or tax rate.

Taux is frequently encountered in various domains. In finance, you'll hear about le taux d'intérêt (the interest rate) or le taux de change (the exchange rate). In statistics and demographics, it's used for le taux de natalité (birth rate) or le taux de chômage (unemployment rate). It also applies to percentages, such as le taux de réussite (success rate) or le taux de TVA (VAT rate).

It's crucial to differentiate taux from other French words that can translate to 'rate' in English. Taux specifically refers to a numerical or proportional rate. It is not used for speed, which is la vitesse (e.g., speed limit is limite de vitesse), nor for rhythm or pace, which is le rythme (e.g., heart rate is rythme cardiaque). Always remember this distinction to avoid common errors.

Taux is a masculine noun, so it's le taux or un taux. It's often followed by de or d' when specifying what kind of rate it is (e.g., taux de croissance - growth rate). You'll frequently see phrases like à un taux élevé (at a high rate) or fixer un taux (to set a rate), which are important for conversational and professional French.

💡 * Le taux de change euro-dollar est très favorable aujourd'hui. (The euro-dollar exchange rate is very favorable today.)

La banque a annoncé une augmentation du taux d'intérêt. (The bank announced an increase in the interest rate.)

Quel est le taux de TVA applicable à ce produit ? (What is the VAT rate applicable to this product?)

Le taux de chômage a légèrement diminué le mois dernier. (The unemployment rate slightly decreased last month.)

Nous devons améliorer notre taux de réussite aux examens. (We need to improve our exam success rate.)

The 'quote' or 'quotation' (a stated price) – cotation

When referring to a 'quote' or 'quotation' in the sense of a stated price, an estimate, or a market value, the French word to use is cotation.

This term is widely used in business, finance, and commerce. It specifically refers to the act of quoting a price or the price itself, especially for goods, services, or financial instruments like stocks and shares.

Cotation is a feminine noun. It's important to distinguish it from a literary 'quotation' or 'citation', for which you would typically use citation or extrait.

💡 * Nous attendons la cotation des matériaux pour finaliser le budget. (We are waiting for the quote for the materials to finalize the budget.)

La cotation de l'action a chuté après l'annonce des résultats. (The stock's price/quotation dropped after the results announcement.)

Pour obtenir une bonne cotation, il faut comparer les offres. (To get a good quote, you need to compare offers.)

Les cotations boursières sont affichées en direct sur le site. (The stock market prices are displayed live on the website.)

The 'estimate' or 'estimated price' – estimation

The 'estimate' or 'estimated price' – estimation. In French, une estimation refers to a calculated guess or a preliminary evaluation of a cost, value, or quantity.

This term is widely used in various practical contexts, such as obtaining a quote for repairs, evaluating the price of a property, or forecasting project expenses. It implies a professional assessment rather than a casual guess.

Estimation is a feminine noun, so it's always une estimation or l'estimation. Its plural form is des estimations.

The related verb is estimer, meaning 'to estimate' or 'to value'. For example, J'estime que le coût sera d'environ 500 euros. (I estimate the cost will be around 500 euros.)

💡 * J'attends l'estimation pour la réparation de ma voiture. (I'm waiting for the estimate for my car repair.)* L'estimation de la maison est très élevée. (The house's estimated price is very high.)* Pouvez-vous me donner une estimation des coûts ? (Can you give me an estimate of the costs?)* Nous avons reçu plusieurs estimations pour le projet. (We received several estimates for the project.)

The 'bid' (a price offered, especially in an auction) – enchère

In French, the most direct translation for "bid," particularly in the context of an auction or tender, is enchère. It refers to the price offered for an item or service.

Enchère is a feminine noun. To "make a bid" or "place a bid," you would typically use the verb faire (to do/make): faire une enchère.

Other common phrases include remporter une enchère (to win a bid/auction) and mettre aux enchères (to put something up for auction).

The plural form, les enchères, often refers to the auction event itself, or the bidding process in general. It always implies a competitive process where the highest or best offer wins.

💡 * J'ai fait une enchère de 500 euros pour ce tableau. (I made a bid of 500 euros for this painting.)

Elle a remporté l'enchère et a acheté la vieille voiture. (She won the bid and bought the old car.)

Le musée a décidé de mettre la collection aux enchères. (The museum decided to put the collection up for auction.)

L'enchère était trop élevée pour mon budget. (The bid was too high for my budget.)

Les enchères ont duré toute la journée. (The bidding lasted all day.)

Are there other ways to say 'price' in French?

Our list covers the most common ways to talk about 'price' in French. However, the French language, like any other, is rich with nuances, including regional variations, specialized vocabulary, and evolving slang terms that might also refer to cost or value.

If you're curious to explore further, you can always do an online search for 'comment dire prix en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, or even a specific industry, to find more specialized terms.

As you discover new terms related to 'price,' always make sure to check their exact definition and observe how they are used in context. This will help you understand their appropriate usage and avoid misunderstandings.

Immerse yourself in French content – read articles, watch videos, and listen to conversations. You'll naturally pick up different expressions for 'price' and 'cost' as they are used in real-life situations.

For a comprehensive look at the word 'prix' and its related expressions, the WordReference entry for prix is an excellent resource. It often provides synonyms, collocations, and usage examples that can expand your vocabulary.

I hope this article has provided a clear understanding of how to discuss 'price' in French. To conclude, here's a thought on value: Le prix s'oublie, la qualité reste. (The price is forgotten, the quality remains.)

9 ways to say "price" in French