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Questions & Answers about Le client paie en espèces.
What exactly does the phrase en espèces mean?
It means in cash (banknotes and coins), as opposed to paying by card, check, or bank transfer. The word espèces here is a set expression; it does not refer to “species” in this context.
Why is espèces plural and feminine? Can I say en espèce?
The fixed expression is en espèces (feminine plural). Historically it referred to “specific kinds of money,” and it stays plural today. You don’t say en espèce in this meaning.
Are there common synonyms for en espèces? Any register differences?
Yes:
- en liquide: very common and informal-neutral (France)
- en cash: informal, anglicism, widely understood
- au comptant / payer comptant: “pay outright/at once”; not necessarily cash (could be by card), just not in installments
- Canadian French: en argent comptant, payer comptant are very common
Why is it paie and not paye? Are both correct?
Both spellings are accepted for -ayer verbs before a silent ending:
- je paie / je paye
- tu paies / tu payes
- il/elle paie / paye
- ils/elles paient / payent
In modern usage, forms with i (paie, paies, paient) are more common in France, but both sets are correct. In the future and conditional, both je paierai and je payerai are accepted.
How do you conjugate payer in the present tense?
- je paie/paye
- tu paies/payes
- il/elle/on paie/paye
- nous payons
- vous payez
- ils/elles paient/payent
How is the sentence pronounced? Any liaisons?
Le client paie en espèces is typically:
- [lə kljɑ̃ pɛ ɑn‿ɛspɛs]
Notes:
- paie = [pɛ]
- There is a liaison in en espèces: the final consonant surfaces as [n], so you hear [ɑn‿ɛspɛs], and the vowel of en is denasalized in the liaison context.
Does Le client mean a specific customer or “the customer” in general?
It can be either, depending on context. French often uses the definite article for general statements. For a clearly general idea, you can also use the plural:
- Les clients paient en espèces.
What if the customer is female?
Use the feminine noun:
- La cliente paie en espèces. Plural forms:
- Mixed or all-male: Les clients
- All-female: Les clientes
Why is the preposition en used here? When do I use en vs par for payments?
- Use en with materials or currencies: en espèces, en liquide, en euros, en billets de 50 euros.
- Use par with instruments/channels: par carte (bancaire), par chèque, par virement, par PayPal.
Does au comptant mean “in cash”?
Not exactly. Payer au comptant means paying the full amount immediately (not in installments). It can be cash or card. If you specifically mean cash, say en espèces (or en liquide).
How do I say it in the negative?
- Le client ne paie pas en espèces. (“The customer doesn’t pay in cash.”) In everyday speech, the ne is often dropped: Le client paie pas en espèces. (informal)
How do I put it in the past or future?
- Passé composé: Le client a payé en espèces. (“The customer paid in cash.”)
- Future: Le client paiera/payera en espèces. (“The customer will pay in cash.”) Both spellings are accepted.
Is there a difference between payer and régler?
Both mean “to pay,” but régler is a bit more formal or business-like and often used with bills/invoices:
- Le client règle la note/facture en espèces.
Any spelling pitfalls related to this verb?
- Present: paie/paye (both OK)
- Past participle: payé (with é)
- Noun: paiement is the standard spelling (you may see payement, but paiement is preferred today).
Can I move en espèces elsewhere in the sentence?
Neutral and most natural is after the verb:
- Le client paie en espèces. Fronting for emphasis is possible but marked/stylistic:
- En espèces, le client paie.