French Phrase
Ça coûte combien pour envoyer cette lettre ?
Meaning
You are asking the price of mailing a particular letter. The sentence is a polite, informal way to request the cost before you pay at the post office or a mailing kiosk.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are at a post office, a shipping counter, or a convenience store that sells stamps, and you need to know how much you’ll have to pay to send a specific letter.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çacoûtecombienpourenvoyercettelettre?
Ça (informal demonstrative)
‘Ça’ is the informal spoken form of ‘cela’, meaning ‘it/that’. It’s common in everyday conversation.
coûter (verb)
‘coûter’ means ‘to cost’. In the present tense, third‑person singular is ‘coûte’.
combien (interrogative)
‘Combien’ asks for a quantity or price. It is placed after the verb when the verb is not a question word itself.
pour + infinitif (purpose)
The preposition ‘pour’ followed by an infinitive expresses the purpose of an action, here ‘to send’.
cette (demonstrative adjective)
‘cette’ points to a specific feminine noun that follows – ‘lettre’.
lettre (noun)
‘lettre’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘letter’ (mail).
🗨In Conversation
Ça coûte combien pour envoyer cette lettre ?
How much does it cost to send this letter?
C’est 1,16 € pour une lettre verte de moins de 20 g.
It’s €1.16 for a green letter under 20 g.
✕Common Mistakes
C’est combien pour envoyer cette lettre ?
‘C’est’ means ‘it is’, not ‘it costs’. Using it changes the meaning to ‘What is it?’ rather than asking for a price.
Combien ça coûte d’envoyer cette lettre ?
While grammatically possible, the construction ‘combien ça coûte d’envoyer…’ sounds more formal and less natural in everyday spoken French.
↔Alternatives
Quel est le prix pour envoyer cette lettre ?
What is the price to send this letter?
Combien faut‑il payer pour envoyer cette lettre ?
How much must one pay to send this letter?
C’est combien pour poster cette lettre ?
How much is it to post this letter?
Cultural Tip
In France, postage rates depend on the weight and the type of service (lettre verte, lettre prioritaire, etc.). A ‘lettre verte’ is the cheapest option for non‑urgent mail and is often used for personal letters. Remember to ask for the exact weight if you’re unsure, because a small difference can change the price.