Home French Language The best way to Say “Costly” in French: 21 Frequent Phrases and Expressions

The best way to Say “Costly” in French: 21 Frequent Phrases and Expressions

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The best way to Say “Costly” in French: 21 Frequent Phrases and Expressions

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There are lots of methods to say “costly” in French, mostly cher,
coûteux
 and onéreux.
 

And in the event you’re touring to France or one other French-speaking nation, it’s good to know learn how to categorical that one thing is dear.

On this submit, you’ll study 7 French adjectives that imply “costly” and learn how to use them, together with 14 widespread expressions for saying that one thing is expensive. 

They simply would possibly enable you negotiate a greater deal whereas purchasing!

Contents

Frequent Methods to Say “Costly” in French

Listed below are 7 widespread methods to say one thing is “costly” in French, together with their numerous kinds based mostly on gender and quantity (singular or plural): 

1. Cher

As you would possibly know, cher is the most typical strategy to say “costly.”

Different emphasised variations embrace trop cher
(too costly) and très cher
(very costly).

Listed below are its totally different kinds and a few examples:

Word: Cher has two meanings. Along with “costly,” it might additionally translate to “pricey,” as in, mon cher,
 significantly once you write a letter and handle an individual as “pricey.” 

2. Coûteux

This second one can also be highly regarded. It means “expensive.” Do not forget that it’s an adjective, not a verb. The verb “to price” is coûter
in French. 

To tone it down, you possibly can say C’est un peu coûteux
 (It’s a bit costly.)


3. Onéreux

That is one other synonym for “costly” that can be translated as “expensive” or “dear.” It’s usually utilized in formal or written contexts.


4. Dispendieux

Dispendieux is one more French adjective which means “costly” or “expensive.” 


5. Prix élevé

Our fifth widespread strategy to categorical expensiveness in French is actually translated as “elevated value” however principally means “excessive value.”

Right here’s learn how to use it in its singular and plural kinds:


6. Salé

Salé means “salty” in French however can be utilized as slang to imply “costly.” Listed below are its kinds and a few examples:


7. Hors de prix

Hors de prix actually interprets to “out of value.” You should utilize it to specific that one thing is approach too costly or out of your value vary. It stays the identical whatever the gender or variety of the noun it describes.

It’s additionally the title of a 2006 French rom-com starring Gad Elmaleh and Audrey Tautou. 

Les voitures de sport de luxe sont souvent hors de prix pour la plupart des gens.
(Luxurious sports activities automobiles are sometimes out of attain by way of value for most individuals.)

French Expressions to Say One thing is Costly 

Whereas we’ve supplied the very best English equivalents for every of those French expressions, please needless to say nothing is literal in relation to idioms and excellent translations don’t at all times exist. 

8. Ça coûte une blinde
(It prices rather a lot)

Coûte is the French phrase for “price,” and as you’ll discover, quite a lot of these expressions will start with it.

This expression is tough to translate actually as a result of there’s no English phrase for blinde. It could describe something that’s in extra, good or unhealthy.

Ça coûte un blinde is principally the French approach of claiming one thing is “loopy costly.” Right here’s an instance:

Ça coûte une blinde d’appeler à l’worldwide !
(It’s tremendous costly calling worldwide!)

9. Ça coute une fortune
(It prices a fortune)

This French expression means “It prices a fortune.” It’s a typical strategy to emphasize the excessive price of one thing.

Ce voyage en première classe coûte une fortune.
(This primary-class journey prices a fortune.)

10. Ça coûte un bras
(It prices an arm) 

This one must be simple as a result of now we have an English model that’s fairly related. 

Ça m’a coûté un bras actually means “It prices an arm.” Sure, our English idiom contains an arm and a leg, however nonetheless—it’s shut!

Hier soir, le dîner m’a coûté un bras !
(Yesterday, dinner price me an arm and a leg!)

11. Ça coûte une jambe
(It prices a leg)

Right here’s the leg that was lacking from the earlier expression! 

J’ai besoin d’un spécialiste, peu importe si ça coûte une jambe !
(I want a specialist, I don’t care if it prices me a leg!)

12. Ça coûte un rein
(It prices a kidney)

Much like the earlier one, this phrase means “It prices a kidney” and is a enjoyable (and dramatic) strategy to complain concerning the excessive value of one thing. 

Cette pièce de joaillerie haut de gamme coûte un rein !
(This high-end jewellery piece prices a kidney!)

13. Ça coûte les yeux de la tête
(It price the eyes from the top)

This one actually interprets to “It price the eyes from the top” however is just like the way in which we are saying “It price me a watch” in English. 

The French have an actual equal for that one too: ça coûte un œil !

Toutes ces visites m’ont coûté les yeux de la tête !
(All of those visits has price me a watch!)

14. Ce n’est pas donné
(It’s not low-cost)

This phrase actually means “It’s not given,” however principally means “It’s not low-cost.” An incredible English equal can be “nothing’s free.”

It’s usually shortened to C’est pas donné
, which makes it a bit much less formal.  It could go hand in hand with one of many different expressions on this listing, like this:

Oh là là, mes vacances en France m’ont coûté un œil !
(My oh my, my trip in France has price me a watch!)

Ce n’est pas donné mon ami !
(Nothing’s free my good friend!)

15. C’est en dehors de mon finances
(It’s out of my finances) 

When your pals are attempting to persuade you to take an costly journey or purchase one thing overpriced, you possibly can reply with this phrase. 

Ce voyage en Europe c’est en dehors de mon finances.
(This journey to Europe is out of my finances.)

16. Ça coûte la peau de cul
(It prices the pores and skin of the ass)

It is a good instance of how the French love creativity and comedy. Ça coûte la peau de cul actually means “It prices the pores and skin of the ass.” Apparently, to the French, the pores and skin on one’s bum is valuable, dear and coûteux !

Simply keep in mind to reserve it for family and friends in informal settings. You definitely don’t need to be shouting this in the midst of a restaurant. 

Ce billet de prepare coûte la peau de cul !
(This prepare ticket prices a fortune!)

17. Ça coûte la peau des fesses
(It prices the pores and skin of the buttocks)

This one is principally the identical because the aforementioned and is taken into account simply as vulgar. Fesses means “buttocks” or “backside,” so this phrase actually means “It prices the skins of a buttocks.” 

We don’t actually have an ideal English equal for both of those, however it’s used to imply that one thing may be very costly, the identical approach we’d say “I needed to pay by the nostril for it” or “It price me an arm and a leg.” 

Regarde ces bijoux dans la vitrine, ils sont magnifiques !
(See these jewels within the show, they’re lovely!)

Oui, mais ils coûtent la peau des fesses !
(Sure, however they price an arm and a leg!)

18. Ça coûte bonbon
(It prices sweet)

Bonbon means “sweet,” so Ça coûte bonbon actually interprets to “It prices sweet.”

The origin of this expression isn’t clear, however one idea is that it makes use of bonbon as a reference to genitals. So once more, watch out the place and to whom you say this. 

Tous ces produits ça coûte bonbon !
(All of those merchandise price a reasonably penny!)

19. Ça coûte un pont
(It prices a bridge)

This expression is utilized in Belgium to say that one thing may be very costly. Apparently, they maintain bridges (des ponts) in excessive regard.

Un appartement comme ça, avec une vue sur la ville doit coûter un pont !
(An condominium like that, with a view of the town should price the earth!)

20. Je ne suis pas Rothschild
(I’m not a Rothschild)

This expression interprets to “I’m not a Rothchild!” and refers to one of many wealthiest households in European historical past (assume the Vanderbilts). Mainly, they’re blindé de thune
(filthy wealthy).

When somebody says they’re not a Rothschild, it means they’re not wealthy and might’t be anticipated to pay for no matter extravagance is being thought of. 

Achetez-vous les billets VIP pour le live performance ?
(Are you shopping for the VIP tickets for the live performance?)

Je ne suis pas Rothschild !
(I’m not a Rothschild!)

21. C’est pas Versailles ici
(It’s not Versailles right here)

It is a quite common French expression that refers back to the extra of the well-known Palace of Versailles, with its many rooms and undoubtedly exorbitant electrical energy invoice. 

French mother and father would possibly say this to their youngsters in the event that they depart the lights on or in any other case waste assets that add to the month-to-month payments.

Éteins la lumière quand tu sors de ta chambre. C’est pas Versailles ici !
(Flip the lights off once you depart your room. This isn’t Versailles!)

The best way to Say “Low-cost” in French

After all of the speak about expensiveness, you could now be questioning learn how to say the alternative. 

The very first thing to know is that there’s no phrase in French that immediately interprets to “low-cost.” They’ve solely provide you with methods to beat across the bush! Listed below are most of them:

All of those, in essence, imply low-cost. It’s also possible to use this common French idiom that expresses cheapness: 

Cela ne mange pas de ache.

It actually interprets to “It’s not consuming bread.” It signifies that one thing is so low-cost that it’s not consuming up one’s “bread,” or their cash.

For extra apply saying that one thing is dear in French, take a look at this video:

 

The following time you’re in France or one other French-speaking nation, you’ll have loads of methods to touch upon the value of one thing.

And in the event you assume you’re being overcharged, you possibly can (politely) shock the locals with one in every of their very own expressions! 

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