French Phrase
Le poids et la destination jouent sur le prix.
Meaning
The weight of the shipment and its destination determine how much it will cost. It is a typical way to explain price variations in logistics, travel, or any service where distance and load matter.
When to use
Use this sentence when discussing shipping rates, airline ticket pricing, courier fees, or any situation where both the mass of an item and where it’s going affect the final price.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lepoidsetladestinationjouentsurleprix.
Definite Articles
Le (masc.) and la (fem.) agree with the gender of the noun they modify.
Conjunction et
Et links two nouns; the verb must agree with the plural subject that follows.
Verb Agreement
‘Jouent’ is the 3rd person plural present of jouer, matching the compound subject ‘le poids et la destination’.
Idiom ‘jouer sur’
In French, ‘jouer sur’ means ‘to influence’ or ‘to have an impact on’ something.
Preposition sur
Sur introduces the thing that is being affected—in this case, ‘le prix’.
🗨In Conversation
Quel sera le tarif pour envoyer ce colis ?
What will be the rate to send this package?
Le poids et la destination jouent sur le prix, alors il faut connaître les deux avant de calculer.
The weight and the destination affect the price, so we need to know both before calculating.
✕Common Mistakes
Le poids et la destination joue sur le prix.
The verb must agree with the plural subject; use ‘jouent’ not ‘joue’.
Le poids et la destination jouent au prix.
The idiom is ‘jouer sur le prix’, not ‘au prix’.
Les poids et la destination jouent sur le prix.
‘Poids’ is singular and does not take an article in the plural; keep it as ‘le poids’.
↔Alternatives
Le poids et la destination influencent le prix.
The weight and the destination influence the price.
Le prix dépend du poids et de la destination.
The price depends on the weight and the destination.
Le coût varie selon le poids et la destination.
The cost varies according to the weight and the destination.
Cultural Tip
In French business and logistics contexts, ‘jouer sur’ is a neutral, slightly formal expression. It’s more common in written or spoken professional French than in everyday casual conversation, where you might simply say ‘influencer’ or ‘déterminer le prix’. Also, remember that French speakers often ask for both weight and destination before giving a quote, reflecting the importance of these two factors.