French Phrase
Je vais payer en liquide.
Meaning
The speaker is stating that they intend to settle the bill using cash. The construction ‘vais + infinitive’ signals a plan that will happen soon.
When to use
Use this sentence at a shop, restaurant, market or any place where you need to tell the cashier how you’ll pay. It’s especially handy when you prefer cash over card or mobile payment.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jevaispayerenliquide.
Near Future (aller + infinitive)
‘Je vais payer’ uses the verb ‘aller’ in the present followed by an infinitive to express a near‑future intention.
Pronoun ‘Je’
Subject pronoun meaning ‘I’; always placed before the conjugated verb.
Preposition ‘en’ + noun
‘en liquide’ means ‘in cash’; ‘en’ introduces the manner or means of payment.
‘liquide’ as a noun
In this context ‘liquide’ functions as a noun meaning ‘cash’; it is not the adjective ‘liquid’.
🗨In Conversation
Comment voulez‑vous régler ?
How would you like to pay?
Je vais payer en liquide.
I’m going to pay in cash.
✕Common Mistakes
Je vais payer en cash.
‘cash’ is English; use the French noun ‘liquide’ or ‘espèces’.
Je vais payer en argent.
‘argent’ means ‘money’ in general; the correct phrase for cash is ‘en liquide’ or ‘en espèces’.
Je payer vais en liquide.
When using the near‑future, keep the order ‘vais + infinitive’; swapping them is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Je paierai en espèces.
I will pay in cash.
Je réglerai en argent comptant.
I’ll settle with cash.
Je paie en cash.
I’m paying in cash.
Cultural Tip
In France cash is still accepted everywhere, but many shops now prefer card payments and may set a minimum amount for cash. ‘En liquide’ sounds slightly more formal than the everyday ‘en espèces’, which is the most common way to say ‘in cash’. Avoid mixing English – say ‘en liquide’ or ‘en espèces’, not ‘en cash’.