les fruits le frü-I
the fruit
At the market (“au marché”) fruit is sold by the kilo or in a “barquette” (small punnet). Don't touch it yourself — the stallholder picks it for you (“Je vous sers”) or you ask first. They often ask when it's for: “C'est pour manger aujourd'hui ?” to give you the perfectly ripe ones.
les légumes le le-GÜM
the vegetables
Many sellers are “producteurs” (growers), with a sign “producteur local” or “de mon jardin”. Seasonal veg (“de saison”) are the stars. “Une botte” = a bunch (of radishes, of carrots), sold by the bunch, not by weight.
une livre ün LIVR
a pound (500g)
In France “une livre” = 500g (half a kilo), not the English pound (453g). “Une demi-livre” = 250g. It's used a lot at the market for fruit and veg. Careful: “un livre” (masculine) = a book — mind the article!
frais FRE
fresh
“Frais” (masculine) / “fraîche” (feminine): “du poisson frais”, “de la salade fraîche”. At the market the seller boasts: “c'est frais du matin” (fresh this morning), “cueilli ce matin” (picked this morning). “Goûtez !” = taste it! — you're often offered a slice.
payer en espèces pe-IE an es-PES
to pay cash
At the market cash (“les espèces”, “du liquide”) is king — many stalls don't take cards or set a minimum. Bring small change. Cards are spreading (mobile terminals), but ask first: “Vous prenez la carte ?”. “La monnaie” = the change/coins.
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