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French Phrase

Ça coûte combien pour l'envoyer au Canada ?

/sa kut kɔ̃.bjɛ̃ puʁ lɑ̃.vwa.je o ka.na.da/
Meaning"How much does it cost to send it to Canada?"
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Meaning

This phrase is used to inquire about the price of sending an item to Canada. It's a direct and common way to ask for shipping costs, often used when purchasing something or arranging delivery. The 'ça' refers to 'it' or 'this thing' being discussed.

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When to use

You would typically use this phrase when you are at a post office, a store, or with a shipping company, and you need to know the cost of sending a package or item to Canada. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Çacoûtecombienpourl'envoyerauCanada?

1

Ça

'Ça' is a demonstrative pronoun, a contraction of 'cela', meaning 'it' or 'that'. It's very common in spoken French to refer to a general situation or an unspecified object.

2

Coûte

This is the third-person singular conjugation of the verb 'coûter' (to cost). It agrees with 'ça' as the subject.

3

Combien

'Combien' means 'how much' or 'how many'. It's an interrogative adverb used to ask about quantity or price.

4

Pour

'Pour' is a preposition meaning 'for' or 'in order to'. Here, it introduces the purpose of the cost: 'for sending it'.

5

L'envoyer

This is a combination of the direct object pronoun 'le' (it) and the infinitive verb 'envoyer' (to send). The 'e' of 'le' is elided before the vowel 'e' of 'envoyer'.

6

Au Canada

'Au' is a contraction of the preposition 'à' (to/at) and the masculine definite article 'le' (the). It's used before masculine countries like 'Canada' to indicate destination.

🗨In Conversation

A

J'aimerais envoyer ce colis au Canada.

I would like to send this package to Canada.

D'accord. Ça coûte combien pour l'envoyer au Canada ?

Okay. How much does it cost to send it to Canada?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Combien coûte pour l'envoyer au Canada ?

    While 'combien coûte' is grammatically correct for 'how much does it cost', the more natural and common phrasing in spoken French for 'how much does IT cost' is 'Ça coûte combien?'

  • Ça coûte combien pour l'envoyer à Canada ?

    For countries, 'au' (à + le) is used for masculine countries like Canada, and 'en' for feminine countries. 'À' is generally for cities or specific locations.

↔Alternatives

  • Quel est le prix pour l'expédition au Canada ?

    What is the price for shipping to Canada?

  • Combien ça coûte d'expédier ça au Canada ?

    How much does it cost to ship this to Canada?

  • Quel est le tarif pour envoyer ça au Canada ?

    What is the rate for sending this to Canada?

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Cultural Tip

French speakers tend to be quite direct when asking about prices, so this phrase is perfectly acceptable and polite. In a commercial setting, it's common to get a detailed breakdown of shipping costs, including options for speed and insurance. Be prepared for questions about the item's weight and dimensions.