French Phrase
La connexion internet est gratuite ?
Meaning
This question asks whether the internet connection is free of charge. It can be used in hotels, cafés, coworking spaces, or any place where you might need to know if you have to pay for Wi‑Fi.
When to use
Use this phrase when you arrive at a venue and want to confirm if you can use the Wi‑Fi without paying. It works in both formal and informal contexts, but you can drop the question mark in spoken French and just raise your intonation.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Laconnexioninternetestgratuite?
Article + Noun Gender
‘La’ is the feminine definite article that matches the gender of ‘connexion’, which is a feminine noun.
Subject‑Verb Agreement
The verb ‘être’ (est) agrees with the singular subject ‘connexion’.
Adjective Agreement
‘Gratuite’ ends with an ‘e’ to agree with the feminine noun ‘connexion’.
Forming Yes/No Questions
You can ask a yes/no question by adding a rising intonation, by using ‘est‑elle’ (inversion), or by the ‘est‑ce que’ construction.
🗨In Conversation
Bonjour, la connexion internet est‑elle gratuite ?
Hello, is the internet connection free?
Oui, le Wi‑Fi est gratuit pour tous les clients.
Yes, the Wi‑Fi is free for all customers.
✕Common Mistakes
La connexion internet est gratuit ?
‘Gratuit’ is masculine; because ‘connexion’ is feminine you need ‘gratuite’.
La connexion internet est‑tu gratuite ?
‘Est‑tu’ is incorrect; the correct inversion is ‘est‑elle’ for a feminine third‑person singular subject.
La connexion Internet est gratuite ?
In French, ‘internet’ is usually written in lowercase unless it starts a sentence.
↔Alternatives
Le Wi‑Fi est‑il gratuit ?
Is the Wi‑Fi free?
Est‑ce que l’accès à internet est gratuit ?
Is access to the internet free?
On peut se connecter gratuitement à internet ?
Can we connect to the internet for free?
Cultural Tip
In France, many cafés and restaurants offer free Wi‑Fi, but it’s polite to ask first. Some places may require you to order something before using it, so a follow‑up like “Do I need to buy something to use the Wi‑Fi?” (Faut‑il commander pour le Wi‑Fi ?) can be useful. Also, note that “connexion” is feminine, so adjectives agree: « la connexion » → « gratuite ».