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French Phrase

Le salaire, c'est négociable ?

/lə sa.laʁ, sɛ nɛ.ɡo.sja.blə/
Meaning"Is the salary negotiable?"
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Meaning

This sentence asks whether the salary can be discussed or changed during a job negotiation. It is a polite, slightly informal way to bring up compensation in a conversation.

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When to use

Use this phrase during a job interview, salary negotiation, or when discussing a contract with a prospective employer. It works well after the job duties have been described and before you sign a contract.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Lesalaire,c'estnégociable?

1

Article défini (Le)

Le is the masculine singular definite article used before a masculine noun like salaire.

2

Noun (salaire)

Salaire means 'salary' and is a masculine noun; it takes the article le.

3

Elision (c')

c' is the contracted form of ce before a vowel or mute h; here it stands for 'ce' meaning 'it/that'.

4

Verb être (est)

Est is the third‑person singular present of être, used here to link the subject (c') with the adjective.

5

Adjective (négociable)

Négociable is an adjective meaning 'negotiable'; it agrees in gender and number with the implied subject (le salaire).

6

Question intonation

Adding a question mark after a declarative sentence turns it into a yes/no question; spoken French often raises intonation at the end.

🗨In Conversation

A

Le poste vous intéresse ?

Are you interested in the position?

Oui, très. Le salaire, c'est négociable ?

Yes, very much. Is the salary negotiable?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Le salaire, c'est négociable.

    Missing the question mark changes the meaning to a statement rather than a question.

  • Le salaire, le c'est négociable ?

    Using "c'est" with a masculine noun is fine, but some learners incorrectly add an extra "le" ("Le salaire, le c'est négociable ?").

  • Les salaires, c'est négociable ?

    Avoid using "c'est" with a plural noun without agreement; for plural you would say "Les salaires, c'est négociable ?" which is awkward. Use "sont" instead.

↔Alternatives

  • Le salaire est négociable ?

    Is the salary negotiable?

  • Peut‑on négocier le salaire ?

    Can we negotiate the salary?

  • Le salaire peut‑il être discuté ?

    Can the salary be discussed?

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Cultural Tip

In French‑speaking workplaces, it is common to discuss salary after the employer has presented the job description. While asking directly is acceptable, framing it as a question (c'est négociable ?) shows politeness and leaves room for the employer to explain the salary range. In more formal settings, you might prefer the more neutral "Le salaire est‑il négociable ?".