French for Brocante Shopping: Asking Whether a Lid Fits a Pot
Learn to ask if a lid belongs to a pot in French, check matching marks or numbers, and avoid buying incomplete cookware sets at a brocante.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a French brocante, you may find a beautiful lid separated from its pot, or a pot missing its lid. To avoid buying an incomplete set, you need to ask the vendor whether the lid actually fits the pot. In this lesson, you will learn polite, inquisitive French questions such as 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?' and how to check for matching marks or numbers. You will also practice the vocabulary for lid, pot, and matching numbers, so you can shop with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask if a lid goes with a specific pot.
- ask whether a lid and pot have matching marks or numbers.
- understand a vendor's answer about whether pieces belong together.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?
Does this lid go with this pot?
ess-kuh suh koo-vehr-kluh vah ah-vek set koh-kot
Use this when you are holding a lid and pointing to a pot. 'Cocotte' often means a cast-iron Dutch oven or stew pot.
Est-ce que ce couvercle correspond à cette casserole ?
Does this lid match this saucepan?
ess-kuh suh koo-vehr-kluh koh-reh-spon ah set kass-rol
Use 'correspond à' when you want to ask about matching or compatibility. 'Casserole' is a saucepan.
Est-ce qu'il y a un numéro ou une marque sur le couvercle et sur la cocotte ?
Is there a number or a mark on the lid and on the pot?
ess-keel ee ah un noo-may-roh oo ewn mark sewr luh koo-vehr-kluh ay sewr lah koh-kot
Use this to ask about identifying marks. 'Numéro' means number, 'marque' means mark.
Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?
Are the numbers the same?
ess-kuh lay noo-may-roh son lay mem
Use this to confirm that the numbers on both pieces match. 'Mêmes' means same.
Est-ce que ce couvercle est d'origine ?
Is this lid original?
ess-kuh suh koo-vehr-kluh ay doh-ree-zheen
Use this to ask if the lid originally came with the pot. 'D'origine' means original or from the original set.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask if one object goes with another, use 'Est-ce que' + subject + 'va avec' + object. For example: 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?' (Does this lid go with this pot?) You can replace the nouns: 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette casserole ?' (Does this lid go with this saucepan?) For matching, use 'correspond à': 'Est-ce que ce couvercle correspond à cette cocotte ?' (Does this lid match this pot?) To ask about numbers, use 'Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?' (Are the numbers the same?)
When to use it
Use these questions when you are at a brocante and you find a lid and a pot that may or may not belong together. Start with 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?' if you simply want to know if they fit. If the vendor says yes, you can ask 'Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?' to check for matching numbers. If you want to know if the lid is original to the pot, ask 'Est-ce que ce couvercle est d'origine ?' These questions are polite and show that you are a careful buyer.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?
Hello, does this lid go with this pot?bon-zhoor, ess-kuh suh koo-vehr-kluh vah ah-vek set koh-kotBonjour. Je ne sais pas, il faut vérifier les numéros.
Hello. I don't know, we need to check the numbers.bon-zhoor. zhuh nuh say pah, eel foh vay-ree-fyay lay noo-may-rohD'accord. Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?
Okay. Are the numbers the same?dah-kor. ess-kuh lay noo-may-roh son lay memOui, regardez, il y a le numéro 12 sur les deux.
Yes, look, there is the number 12 on both.wee, ruh-gar-day, eel ee ah luh noo-may-roh dooz sewr lay duhA little context goes a long way
At a brocante, vendors are usually friendly but may not know the history of every item. It is normal to ask questions and inspect objects. Use 'vous' with vendors you do not know. If the vendor says 'je ne sais pas', you can ask to check the numbers yourself. Politeness is appreciated: start with 'Bonjour' and use 'Est-ce que' to keep the tone inquisitive rather than demanding.
One thing to watch for
Using 'avec' with 'correspond' as in 'correspond avec'.
Try this instead: The standard construction is 'correspond à': 'Est-ce que ce couvercle correspond à cette cocotte ?' (Does this lid match this pot?). Avoid 'correspond avec' in this context.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask if this lid goes with this pot?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?
This uses the pattern 'Est-ce que' + subject + 'va avec' + object. You can also say 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette casserole ?' if it is a saucepan.
2How do you ask if the numbers on the lid and pot are the same?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?
This asks about matching numbers. You can also ask 'Est-ce qu'il y a un numéro sur le couvercle et sur la cocotte ?' to ask if there is a number on both.
3How do you ask if the lid is original to the pot?
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que ce couvercle est d'origine ?
This asks if the lid originally came with the pot. Another way is 'Est-ce que ce couvercle vient avec cette cocotte ?' (Does this lid come with this pot?).
When you find a lid and pot at a brocante, ask 'Est-ce que ce couvercle va avec cette cocotte ?' and check for matching numbers with 'Est-ce que les numéros sont les mêmes ?' This helps you avoid buying an incomplete set.
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