French Phrase
Tu peux me donner une estimation des coûts ?
Meaning
You are asking someone, in an informal tone, to provide you with an approximate amount of money that will be needed. It’s a polite request that assumes the listener has the information or can calculate it.
When to use
Use this sentence when discussing budgets, project planning, or any situation where you need a rough figure. It works well in informal business meetings, among colleagues, or with a client you already know well. In formal contexts, switch to ‘vous’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tupeuxmedonneruneestimationdescoûts?
Peux (pouvoir)
‘Peux’ is the 2nd person singular present of ‘pouvoir’, used to ask for ability or permission.
Me (object pronoun)
‘Me’ is the direct/indirect object pronoun meaning ‘to me’; it precedes the infinitive in a ‘peux + infinitive’ construction.
Donner (infinitive)
The infinitive follows ‘peux’; together they form a polite request: ‘can you give…’.
Une estimation (noun phrase)
‘Une’ is the indefinite article for feminine singular nouns; ‘estimation’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘estimate’.
Des coûts (partitive/plural article)
‘Des’ is the plural indefinite article (some/any) used before the plural noun ‘coûts’ (costs).
🗨In Conversation
Tu peux me donner une estimation des coûts ?
Can you give me an estimate of the costs?
Bien sûr, je dirais entre 4 500 et 5 200 euros.
Sure, I’d say between 4,500 and 5,200 euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu peux me donner une estimation des coût ?
‘Coût’ must be pluralized to match ‘des’, which is used with plural nouns.
Tu peux me donner un estimation des coûts ?
‘Estimation’ is feminine, so the article must be ‘une’, not ‘un’.
Tu peux tu me donner une estimation des coûts ?
When using ‘tu’, the verb and pronoun are inverted: ‘Peux‑tu…’. Without inversion, it sounds like a statement, not a question.
↔Alternatives
Peux‑tu me fournir une estimation des dépenses ?
Can you provide me with an estimate of the expenses?
Pourrais‑tu me donner une fourchette de prix ?
Could you give me a price range?
Est‑ce que tu as une idée du budget nécessaire ?
Do you have an idea of the necessary budget?
Cultural Tip
In French business culture, using ‘tu’ signals familiarity or a relaxed atmosphere. If you’re speaking to a client, a senior colleague, or someone you just met, it’s safer to use the formal ‘vous’: ‘Vous pouvez me donner une estimation des coûts ?’. Also, French speakers often prefer a concrete range rather than a single figure, so offering a ‘fourchette de prix’ is appreciated.