What should you do before touching any merchandise at a boutique in France?

If you are able to do this (a simple bonjour madame/monsieur is entirely sufficient) you will find you will get much better service should you want to look in more detail or buy. You should also seek permission before touching any merchandise at a boutique in France, particularly in more upmarket areas.

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What should you say before touching any merchandise at a boutique in France?

Always say Bonjour and Au Revoir

The first ground rule when entering a shop is to say 'Bonjour' (hello) Madame or Monsieur. It is considered respectful. Of course, if you're entering a big department store or supermarket and there are no sales assistant nearby, you don't have to do this, obviously.

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What should you say when leaving a store in France?

– When you have finished selecting and paying for your items (and even if you have not made a purchase) and you are getting ready to leave the store, always smile, say, “Thank you!” “Merci!,” and “Good Bye,” “Au revoir“).

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What is the etiquette in France?

Basic Etiquette

At a service counter, you are expected to greet the service provider with a brief 'bonjour' ('hello'), even if you are in a rush. It is rude to sit with one's legs spread apart unless in a relaxed context. Rather, sit straight with your legs crossed at the knee or knees together.

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How do you greet a shopkeeper in France?

Greet the shopkeeper

When you enter a shop (with the exception of the larger department stores), the first thing you do is greet the shopkeeper in the culture of France. Then say bonjour or bonsoir together with monsieur, madame, or mademoiselle will do the trick.

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French Listening Practice - Shopping at a Boutique in France

31 related questions found

Is it rude to not say bonjour?

You'll come across as impolite if you don't say bonjour and that's not the first impression you'll want to make. It's even seen as insulting to not say bonjour in French and then French get the reputation for being rude or snobby… but that's a conversation for another day.

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Which cheek to kiss first in France?

In terms of which cheek to start with, there is never a right answer as it depends on the region but in Paris and in the majority of France, you go to the left, kissing the other person's right cheek first. You can also coordinate with the person in the moment.

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Is it okay to kiss in public in France?

[1] Kissing in public is fine as long as you don't overdo it. Don't use any tongue, and don't put your hands under your partner's clothes. Reason #2 that Paris is the Sexiest City in the World: You can kiss your sweetie in public. The French are famously cool with public displays of affection, which is great because...

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Is it rude to not say hello in France?

In France, it's considered rude not to say hello every time you enter a shop or when you first begin a conversation with a local. Brush up on these ten French words or phrases that'll get you beyond bonjour.

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Is it customary to kiss in France?

La bise is a traditional, common way to greet family, friends, and even coworkers (depending on your workplace). It's the equivalent of both a handshake and a hug. Basically, faire la bise consists of lightly kissing someone on the cheek or cheeks.

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What is unacceptable French business etiquette?

Showing up for meetings unannounced is unacceptable in France. Give plenty of notice about your intentions for a meeting, and respect the time you have been given.

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How do you greet a customer in French?

The most important French greetings include bonjour (hello), enchanté(e) (nice to meet you), bonsoir (good evening/hello), salut (hi), coucou (hey), Ça fait longtemps, dis donc (long time no see), Âllo (hello), Ça va? (how are you?), tu vas bien? (have you been well?), quoi de neuf? (what's up?), au revoir!

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How do you respond to au revoir in French?

How to reply to au revoir. The best way to respond to “au revoir” is to simply reply “au revoir”. In formal situations you can reply with “au revoir madame” or “au revoir monsieur” (goodbye, ma'am or goodbye, sir).

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How do you ask for something in a French shop?

Je voudrais {ITEM}, s'il vous plaît. "I would like {ITEM} please."

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What is the French word boutique mean?

Boutique comes from a French word of the same spelling, which means any small shop. The word has its roots in the Greek word apotheke, meaning "a warehouse." The same root word also gave rise to the English word apothecary. The word boutique often has an air of exclusivity.

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Is it rude to say bonjour twice?

This difference might seem a little trivial like the difference between saying “hello” and “hello again,” but it's considered rude to say bonjour instead of rebonjour if you've already seen them once that day. This is because when you say bonjour you're implying that this is the first time you've seen them that day.

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Can I say bonjour at night?

Saying bonjour is the most common way to greet someone in French. It's a flexible, all-purpose term: You use it to greet people in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Bonjour is always polite, and it works in any situation.

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Is it rude to not speak French in Paris?

While speaking English, in Paris, is not considered rude, expecting every French person to speak French will surely be seen as such. To avoid a cold reaction from the other party, it will always be appreciated to start the conversation with a simple sentence in French.

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Is it OK to French kiss at 13?

The general rule for these things is if it's legal and makes you both happy, sure. Obviously there are certain social situations where this kind of thing is inappropriate, (that includes most of school) but there is nothing wrong with French kissing itself at all.

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Can 11 year olds French kiss?

There is no age for kissing, as long as you know how to kiss or french kiss. There is legal age for doing such things in some places. People do it in privacy, if they feel like. To french kiss, age is not required, knowledge is required.

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Can you French kiss without tongue?

You don't have to use your tongue through the entire make out session. If you want to just kiss without tongue too, it's totally fine. When you ARE using tongue, your go-to move when Frenching can be a massage between your two tongues. You can also try different things and see what feels most comfortable.

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Do Australians kiss on the cheek?

When greeting each other, close friends may hug, back-slap or kiss one another on the cheek, while others may simply offer a nod. Women generally tend to be more physically affectionate during greetings. The most common verbal greeting is a simple “Hey”, “Hello”, or “Hi”.

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What does it mean when a guy French kisses you?

French kiss is an intense and passionate kiss on the lips. This also includes a lot of tongue-play and is shared by two partners who are deeply attracted or infatuated with each other. This kiss is truly one of a kind, as it leaves both quite breathless and wanting for more.

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What is the proper response to Bonjour?

You can either reply saying "Bonjour" back or you could say "salut" which also means hello but in an informal way. This is especially important in French because French-speakers tend to be much more formal about greetings. It's also nice for children to always sing the same song at the beginning of a class.

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What not to say to a French person?

We've both put our pieds in our mouths at a few dinner parties, so take it from us and avoid these topics:
  • “You're French? ...
  • “Your accent is sooooo cute!” ...
  • “Ew, you eat that?” ...
  • “So, what do you do for a living?” ...
  • “I love your home/car/bag, it's so nice. ...
  • “Everyone knows French people don't like to work.”

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