French Phrase
Il fait combien ?
Meaning
Literally ‘It makes how much?’, this colloquial phrase is used to ask the price of an item or service. It’s short, direct and common in everyday market or shop conversations.
When to use
Use it when you’re at a store, market, café, or any place where you need to know the cost of something. It’s informal, so in very formal settings you might prefer “C’est combien ?” or “Quel est le prix ?”.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilfaitcombien?
Il fait (impersonal)
‘Il fait’ is an impersonal construction used to describe weather, temperature, or, informally, the price of something.
Combien (interrogative adverb)
‘Combien’ asks ‘how much?’ and is placed after the verb in casual spoken French.
🗨In Conversation
Il fait combien ?
How much is it?
Il fait cinq euros.
It’s five euros.
✕Common Mistakes
Il fait combien de ?
‘Combien de’ is used before a noun (e.g., ‘Combien de pommes ?’). When asking the price, just use ‘Il fait combien ?’
Il fait combien temps ?
To ask about time you should say ‘Il est quelle heure ?’ or ‘Combien de temps…’ not ‘Il fait combien temps ?’
Il fait combien ?
In formal or polite contexts, add ‘s’il vous plaît’ or use ‘C’est combien, s’il vous plaît ?’
↔Alternatives
C’est combien ?
How much is it?
Ça coûte combien ?
How much does it cost?
Quel est le prix ?
What is the price?
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries it’s perfectly normal to ask “Il fait combien ?” when you’re shopping, but adding a polite “s’il vous plaît” before the question softens the tone. Remember that the same structure can also refer to temperature (e.g., “Il fait combien aujourd’hui ?” – “What’s the temperature today?”), so context tells the listener what you’re asking about.