Log inSign up

Combien cela coûte?

Combien cela coûte?
How much does that cost?
FromLesson 22inHardcore French

Breakdown of Combien cela coûte?

combien
how much
cela
that
coûter
to cost

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.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning French

Master French — from Combien cela coûte to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning French →