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Questions & Answers about Combien cela coûte?
Is there supposed to be a space before the question mark in French?
Yes. In French typography, you put a (narrow) space before ? ! : ;. When typing, most people just use a regular space: Combien cela coûte ?
Should I use cela or ça here?
Both are correct, but ça is by far the most common in everyday speech: Combien ça coûte ? Cela is more formal or literary and less frequent in conversation.
Is Combien est-ce que ça coûte ? also correct?
Yes. It’s a neutral, explicit form and a bit more formal than Combien ça coûte ? All three are fine.
Can I invert the subject: Combien coûte cela ? or Combien cela coûte-t-il ? Why the -t-?
- Combien coûte cela ? is correct but sounds formal/literary.
- Combien cela coûte-t-il ? is very formal; the inserted -t- is added for euphony when the verb ends in a vowel and the inverted pronoun (il/elle/on) begins with one. In everyday speech, prefer Combien ça coûte ?
Why isn’t there de after combien?
Use combien de when it modifies a noun: Combien d’euros ? Here, combien is an adverb modifying the verb coûte (“costs how much”), so no de.
How would I ask about a specific item by name?
- Combien coûte ce livre ? (inversion with a noun)
- Ce livre, ça coûte combien ? (very colloquial)
- Quel est le prix de ce livre ? (polite/neutral)
How do I pronounce the sentence naturally?
Approximation: kohm-byehn suh-lah koot. In everyday speech you’ll more often hear kohm-byehn sah koot (with ça). The circumflex in coûte doesn’t change the sound.
What’s the deal with the circumflex in coûte? Can I write coute?
Traditional spelling is coûte. The 1990 reforms also allow coute, but coûte is still more common in careful writing. Pronunciation is identical.
Is this polite enough in a shop or restaurant?
Yes, Combien ça coûte ? or C’est combien ? are perfectly normal. To soften it, add s’il vous plaît or start with Excusez-moi. For a total at checkout, Ça fait combien ? is common.
How do I answer this question?
- Ça coûte dix euros.
- C’est 10 € (very common).
- With a noun: Le livre coûte 20 €.
In French, write amounts as 10 € (symbol after the number) and use a decimal comma: 10,50 €.
Can I ask “How many euros does it cost?” explicitly?
Yes: Combien d’euros ça coûte ? or Ça coûte combien d’euros ? If the currency is obvious, people usually just say Combien ça coûte ?
What about plurals? Should the verb agree with multiple items?
If you’re asking for a total price, French normally uses singular ça/cela: Combien ça coûte ? If you really mean several items as subjects, use the plural: Combien coûtent-ils/elles ? But for prices, the singular total is most common.
Is Combien coûte ça ? acceptable?
It’s grammatical but sounds awkward. With ça/cela, French strongly prefers the subject-first pattern: Combien ça coûte ? If you want inversion, use a noun: Combien coûte ce stylo ?
Are there regional differences?
Meaning is the same. In France you’ll hear C’est combien ?, Ça fait combien ?, and Combien ça coûte ? very often; in Québec, Combien ça coûte ? and Ça coûte combien ? are both standard. Cela is rare in casual speech in most regions.
Does coûter allow “cost someone” like in English?
Yes, with à or object pronouns: Ça m’a coûté 50 € or Cela coûte 50 € à Pierre. The priced thing is the subject; the payer is an indirect object.