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Magasin or boutique: explore a French shopping street
Explore a French shopping street and name its shops. Compare magasin, boutique, grand magasin and centre commercial, then practise asking for what you need.
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In short
Un magasin is a general word for a shop. Une boutique often suggests a smaller or specialised shop, such as une boutique de souvenirs. Both words can describe the same business; boutique also appears in une boutique en ligne, an online shop.
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Explore the shopping street: tap a shop, then find it
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What is the difference between magasin and boutique?
| French | What it names | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un magasin | a shop; a broad everyday word | Ce magasin vend des vêtements. |
| une boutique | a shop, often small or specialised | Cette boutique vend des bijoux. |
| un grand magasin | a department store; also literally a large shop | Les chaussures sont au premier étage. |
| un centre commercial | a shopping centre with several shops | Il y a dix magasins dans ce centre commercial. |
| une boutique en ligne | an online shop | Je commande sur leur boutique en ligne. |
Un magasin de vêtements and une boutique de vêtements can both mean a clothes shop. Add petit or petite when size matters: un petit magasin, une petite boutique. For prices, ask Ça coûte combien ?
- Vendeuse
Bonjour, je peux vous aider ?
Hello, can I help you?
- Client
Oui, je cherche une veste bleue.
Yes, I’m looking for a blue jacket.
- Vendeuse
Voici une veste en taille M.
Here is a jacket in size M.
- Client
Merci. Je peux l’essayer ?
Thank you. Can I try it on?
- Vendeuse
Bien sûr. La cabine est au fond.
Of course. The fitting room is at the back.
- Je lis un magasin.Je lis un magazine.
Un magazine is a publication. Un magasin is a shop.
- Ce boutique est ouvert.Cette boutique est ouverte.
Boutique is feminine: cette and ouverte agree with it.
Samedi, nous faisons les magasins.
On Saturday, we’re going shopping.
Faire les magasins often means browsing or going round the shops. Faire les courses is the usual phrase for everyday shopping, especially groceries.