Magasin is probably the most common way to say "store" in French. But as you explore France or even just talk about shopping, you'll quickly realize there are many other words you might hear.

Whether you're looking for a specific type of shop or just want to expand your French vocabulary, knowing these different terms will make your conversations and experiences much richer.

Let's dive into 9 different ways to talk about "stores" in French, covering everything from general shops to specialized boutiques!

The general and most common 'store' – magasin

Magasin is the most basic and widely used French word for 'store' or 'shop'. It's your primary go-to term for any retail establishment.

This is a masculine noun. Therefore, you will always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as un magasin (a store) or le magasin (the store) in the singular, and des magasins (some stores) or les magasins (the stores) in the plural.

Unlike English, which often uses specific terms like 'grocery store' or 'clothing shop', magasin serves as a versatile, general term for nearly any type of retail business.

One of the most common phrases you'll hear is faire les magasins, which literally translates to 'to do the stores' but means 'to go shopping' or 'to shop around'.

When you want to say you're going to a store, you'll use aller au magasin (to go to the store). For example, Je vais au magasin pour acheter du pain (I'm going to the store to buy bread).

You can specify the type of store by adding a prepositional phrase, often with de. For instance, un magasin de vêtements (a clothing store), un magasin de chaussures (a shoe store), or un magasin de jouets (a toy store).

For larger retail spaces, particularly department stores, the term un grand magasin (literally 'a big store') is commonly used, referring to establishments like Galeries Lafayette or Printemps.

While boutique also means 'shop', it typically suggests a smaller, more specialized, or fashionable establishment (e.g., a boutique de luxe for luxury items). Magasin is the broader, more general term.

When in doubt, magasin is almost always the correct and safest choice for 'store' or 'shop' in French, making it an essential word for any learner.

💡 *Je dois aller au magasin. (I need to go to the store.)
*Il y a un nouveau magasin de livres près de chez moi. (There's a new book store near my place.)
*Nous allons faire les magasins cet après-midi. (We're going shopping this afternoon.)
*Le grand magasin ouvre à 9h. (The department store opens at 9 AM.)
*J'ai acheté cette robe dans un petit magasin. (I bought this dress in a small shop.)

The smaller, often specialized 'shop' or 'boutique' – boutique

The smaller, often specialized 'shop' or 'boutique' – boutique

In French, the word boutique refers to a 'shop' or 'store,' but it carries a specific nuance that differentiates it from the more general term magasin.

While magasin can refer to any type of store, from a large supermarket to a small corner shop, a boutique typically implies a smaller, more specialized establishment. Think of it as a 'boutique' in English – a place offering a curated selection of goods.

The term boutique often suggests a higher quality, more exclusive, or unique range of products, whether it's clothing, jewelry, artisanal food, or gifts. It evokes a sense of charm and personalized service.

You'll often hear boutique used for fashion stores (boutique de vêtements), jewelry shops (boutique de bijoux), or small specialty food stores (boutique de chocolat). It's less likely to be used for a large electronics store or a general grocery store.

When you go shopping at a boutique, you might say you're 'faire du shopping' (to go shopping) or more specifically, 'faire les boutiques' (to go window shopping or browse shops).

💡 * Je vais acheter un cadeau dans une petite boutique de souvenirs. (I'm going to buy a gift in a small souvenir shop.)

Elle a ouvert sa propre boutique de vêtements vintage. (She opened her own vintage clothing boutique.)

Cette rue est pleine de boutiques charmantes. (This street is full of charming shops.)

On a passé l'après-midi à faire les boutiques. (We spent the afternoon shopping around / window shopping.)

La boutique de chocolat est fermée le dimanche. (The chocolate shop is closed on Sundays.)

The broader term for 'business' or 'establishment' – commerce

When speaking French, the word commerce is a versatile term that goes beyond just 'trade' or 'business activity'.

At its core, commerce (masculine noun) refers to the act of buying and selling, or business in a general sense, much like its English cognate 'commerce'.

However, un commerce can also specifically mean a physical 'shop', 'store', or 'business establishment' where goods or services are offered. This is a very common usage in everyday French.

Commerce is a masculine noun. So, you'll often see it preceded by le (the) or un (a/an) when referring to a specific shop, e.g., un petit commerce (a small shop).

The context usually clarifies whether you're talking about the abstract concept of trade or a concrete business location. For example, faire du commerce means 'to do business/trade', while ouvrir un commerce means 'to open a shop'.

Other related terms include zone commerciale (commercial zone/shopping area) or centre commercial (shopping mall), further illustrating its broad application.

💡 *Le commerce international est essentiel pour l'économie. (International trade is essential for the economy.)
*Il y a un nouveau commerce dans la rue. (There's a new shop on the street.)
*Elle a ouvert son propre commerce de fleurs. (She opened her own flower shop.)
*Les petits commerces souffrent de la concurrence. (Small businesses suffer from competition.)
*Ce quartier regorge de commerces variés. (This neighborhood is full of various shops.)

The small, old-fashioned 'stall' or 'booth' – échoppe

The French word échoppe refers to a small, often old-fashioned shop, stall, or booth. It evokes an image of a quaint, modest commercial space.

Unlike a larger magasin or boutique, an échoppe specifically highlights a compact size and often suggests a traditional, perhaps even rustic, setting. It carries a charming, somewhat nostalgic feel.

You'll often hear échoppe used for artisan workshops, market stalls, or small, independent businesses that might sell crafts, antiques, or specialty foods. It's less common for modern chain stores.

💡 * L'échoppe du cordonnier sentait le cuir et la cire. (The shoemaker's stall smelled of leather and wax.)

J'ai trouvé un bijou unique dans une petite échoppe d'antiquaire. (I found a unique piece of jewelry in a small antique dealer's booth.)

Les échoppes du marché de Noël vendaient des produits artisanaux. (The Christmas market stalls sold artisanal products.)

Cette rue est pleine de charmantes échoppes où l'on peut flâner. (This street is full of charming stalls where one can stroll.)

The 'department store' – grand magasin

When you're looking for a department store in France, the term you'll use is grand magasin.

Literally translating to "big store," a grand magasin refers to a large retail establishment that offers a wide range of consumer goods in different departments.

Think of places like Macy's or Harrods; these stores are designed for a comprehensive shopping experience, often covering multiple floors and featuring everything from fashion and cosmetics to home goods and electronics.

Key characteristics include its multi-departmental structure, often upscale atmosphere, and a focus on offering a diverse selection of brands and products under one roof.

It's important to distinguish grand magasin from a supermarché (supermarket). While both are "big stores," a supermarché primarily sells groceries and everyday household items, whereas a grand magasin focuses on non-food consumer goods, often with a premium feel.

Paris, for instance, is home to several iconic grands magasins like Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, which are not just shopping destinations but also tourist attractions due to their architecture and history.

💡 * Je vais aux Galeries Lafayette, c'est un grand magasin célèbre. (I'm going to Galeries Lafayette, it's a famous department store.)

Tu peux trouver toutes sortes de choses dans un grand magasin. (You can find all sorts of things in a department store.)

Les grands magasins sont souvent très élégants. (Department stores are often very elegant.)

J'ai acheté cette robe dans un grand magasin. (I bought this dress in a department store.)

Il y a un nouveau grand magasin qui a ouvert en centre-ville. (A new department store has opened downtown.)

The 'supermarket' or 'grocery store' – supermarché / hypermarché

When you need to buy groceries in France, you'll most commonly encounter two main terms: supermarché and hypermarché. Both translate to 'supermarket' or 'grocery store' in English, but they refer to different scales of retail.

A supermarché is generally a medium-sized grocery store, often found within city centers or residential areas. It offers a good range of food and household products. An hypermarché, on the other hand, is a much larger retail space, typically located on the outskirts of towns or in commercial zones, resembling a hypermarket or a large big-box store. It sells not only groceries but also electronics, clothing, and other goods.

For everyday grocery runs, especially if you're in a city, you'll likely go to a supermarché. Major French chains include Carrefour City, Monoprix, and Casino Supermarché. If you're planning a big weekly shop, need a wider selection, or are looking for non-food items, an hypermarché like Carrefour, Auchan, or Leclerc would be your destination. French people often use the shortened le super for supermarché in casual conversation.

While supermarché and hypermarché cover most modern grocery shopping, it's also worth knowing about épiceries (small local grocery stores, often for convenience or specialty items) and marchés (open-air markets for fresh produce, meat, and cheese), which offer different shopping experiences and product ranges.

💡 * Je vais au supermarché acheter du pain. (I'm going to the supermarket to buy bread.)

L'hypermarché est trop grand, je préfère le petit super du quartier. (The hypermarket is too big, I prefer the small local supermarket.)

On doit aller à l'hypermarché pour les courses de la semaine. (We need to go to the hypermarket for the week's groceries.)

Est-ce qu'il y a un bon supermarché près d'ici ? (Is there a good supermarket near here?)

The 'bookstore' – librairie

In French, the word librairie refers to a bookstore, a place where you can buy books.

It's important not to confuse librairie with a public library, which is called a bibliothèque in French. A librairie is for purchasing books, while a bibliothèque is for borrowing them.

You visit a librairie to browse new releases, find specific titles, or simply enjoy the atmosphere of a place dedicated to books.

💡 * Je vais à la librairie pour acheter le dernier roman de mon auteur préféré. (I'm going to the bookstore to buy the latest novel by my favorite author.)

Est-ce qu'il y a une bonne librairie près d'ici ? (Is there a good bookstore near here?)

Les librairies indépendantes offrent souvent des conseils personnalisés. (Independent bookstores often offer personalized advice.)

J'ai passé tout l'après-midi à flâner dans une librairie. (I spent the whole afternoon browsing in a bookstore.)

The 'bakery' – boulangerie

The boulangerie is the quintessential French bakery, a place deeply ingrained in French culture. It's where you go to buy your daily bread, especially the iconic baguette.

While its primary focus is on bread (from boulanger, meaning baker), many boulangeries also offer a delightful array of pastries like croissants, pains au chocolat, and often simple sandwiches for lunch.

Visiting the boulangerie is a daily ritual for many French people. The smell of fresh bread is a defining characteristic, and the quality of a local boulangerie is often a point of pride.

You'll often see the sign 'Boulangerie Pâtisserie', indicating that the establishment bakes both bread and more elaborate cakes and desserts. If it's just a pâtisserie, it focuses solely on cakes and sweets.

💡 * Je vais à la boulangerie acheter une baguette. (I'm going to the bakery to buy a baguette.)

La boulangerie du coin fait les meilleurs croissants. (The corner bakery makes the best croissants.)

J'ai pris un sandwich à la boulangerie pour mon déjeuner. (I got a sandwich at the bakery for my lunch.)

L'odeur du pain frais de la boulangerie est incroyable. (The smell of fresh bread from the bakery is incredible.)

The 'small, local grocery store' – épicerie

In French, the most common and accurate term for a small, local grocery store is épicerie. It refers to a neighborhood shop where you can buy essential food items, often with a more personal touch than larger chains.

An épicerie is typically a small, independent shop, often family-run, focusing on convenience and proximity. You'll find a selection of fresh produce, dairy, bread, canned goods, and sometimes local specialties. They are essential for daily errands, especially in urban areas or villages where larger supermarkets might be less accessible.

While an épicerie is a small, local store, it's important to differentiate it from a supermarché (supermarket) or hypermarché (hypermarket), which are much larger chain stores offering a wider range of products, including non-food items. The épicerie offers a more intimate and often quicker shopping experience.

Sometimes, an épicerie fine refers to a gourmet grocery store specializing in high-quality, often artisanal, products. You might also hear épicerie de quartier (neighborhood grocery store) to emphasize its local aspect.

💡 * Je vais à l'épicerie acheter du pain et du lait. (I'm going to the grocery store to buy some bread and milk.)

Notre épicerie du quartier est ouverte jusqu'à 20h. (Our neighborhood grocery store is open until 8 PM.)

Tu peux trouver des légumes frais à l'épicerie. (You can find fresh vegetables at the grocery store.)

J'adore les petites épiceries pour leur ambiance. (I love small grocery stores for their atmosphere.)

L'épicerie fine vend des produits locaux et des spécialités. (The gourmet grocery store sells local products and specialties.)

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

Are there other ways to say “store” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “store” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire magasin en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for magasin on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about stores.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of stores, or words about shopping in French, the WordReference entry for magasin is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Émile Zola, who famously depicted Parisian department stores: Le grand magasin, c'est la cathédrale du commerce moderne. (The department store is the cathedral of modern commerce.)

9 ways to say "store" in French