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French Phrase

C'est combien, ça ?

/s‿ɛ kɔ̃.bjɛ̃ sa/
Meaning"How much is that?"
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Meaning

Literally “It is how much, that?” – the idiomatic way to ask the price of something you’re pointing at or holding. It’s a very common, informal phrase you’ll hear in markets, cafés, and street‑side stalls across the French‑speaking world.

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When to use

Use this phrase in casual settings when you want to know the cost of an item you can see or touch. It’s perfect for markets, small boutiques, food trucks, or when chatting with a friend about a product. In more formal situations (e.g., a high‑end shop or a business meeting) you might choose a more polite form.

✦Grammar Breakdown

C'estcombiença?

1

C'est (ce + est)

C'est is the contraction of the demonstrative pronoun ce (this/that) and the verb être (to be). It introduces a statement or question about something.

2

Combien (how much)

Combien is an interrogative adverb used to ask about quantity or price. In this construction it directly follows the verb être.

3

Ça (that, this)

Ça is the informal spoken form of cela, a demonstrative pronoun that points to the object you are referring to, often used in casual speech.

🗨In Conversation

A

C'est combien, ça ?

How much is that?

Ça fait trois euros.

That’s three euros.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • C'est combien ?

    Without "ça" the sentence is vague; you need to point to or name the object you’re asking about.

  • Combien c'est ?

    The correct order is "C'est combien"; swapping the verb and interrogative sounds unnatural.

  • C'est combien, ça sont ?

    Avoid adding extra verbs; the phrase is complete as is.

↔Alternatives

  • Combien ça coûte ?

    How much does that cost?

  • C'est quel prix ?

    What’s the price?

  • Ça coûte combien ?

    How much does it cost?

  • Quel est le prix de ça ?

    What is the price of that?

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Cultural Tip

In France, price‑asking is usually done with a friendly tone and a smile. After you get the answer, it’s polite to say "Merci" or "Très bien, merci". If you’re in a more upscale shop, replace the informal "ça" with the object’s name (e.g., "Le sac, c’est combien ?"). Also, remember that bargaining is common in markets but not in most retail stores.