In this workshop you will practice a short exchange at a shipping counter. You will ask how much it costs to send a package, answer a question about its weight, and understand a price reply. Each native example is a recording you can listen to, and you will check your understanding with clear answer keys.
Asking the price
Start with a polite greeting and a request. The line «Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?» means "Hello, I would like to ship this package. How much does it cost?" This combines a greeting, a request to ship, and a price question. If you only need the price question, you can use «Combien ça coûte pour expédier ce colis ?», which means "How much does it cost to ship this package?" A shorter version is «C'est combien pour envoyer ce paquet ?», meaning "How much is it to send this parcel?" All three are useful when you are at a counter and want to know the cost before handing over the package.
Weight and price
The staff member may ask about weight. The line «Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?» means "It depends on the weight. How much does it weigh?" This tells you that the price is not fixed and that you need to give a weight. You can answer with «Il pèse environ deux kilos.», which means "It weighs about two kilos." If you want to ask whether weight matters, use «Le prix dépend du poids ?», meaning "Does the price depend on the weight?" The reply «Pour deux kilos, c'est 15 euros. C'est moins cher si c'est plus léger.» means "For two kilos, it's 15 euros. It's cheaper if it's lighter." This gives a price for two kilos and adds that a lighter package costs less.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Combien ça coûte pour expédier ce colis ?
How much does it cost to ship this package?
kohn-BYEN sah KOOT poor ek-speh-DYAY suh koh-LEE
C'est combien pour envoyer ce paquet ?
How much is it to send this parcel?
say kohn-BYEN poor ahn-vwah-YAY suh pah-KAY
Le prix dépend du poids ?
Does the price depend on the weight?
luh pree day-PAHN dew pwah
Il pèse environ deux kilos.
It weighs about two kilos.
eel pehz ahn-vee-ROHN duh kee-LOH
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?
Hello, I would like to ship this package. How much does it cost?Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?
It depends on the weight. How much does it weigh?Il pèse environ deux kilos.
It weighs about two kilos.Pour deux kilos, c'est 15 euros. C'est moins cher si c'est plus léger.
For two kilos, it's 15 euros. It's cheaper if it's lighter.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided counter exchange
You are at a shipping counter. You have a package and want to know the cost. The staff member will ask about the weight.
Your task: Read your part aloud, then listen to the staff part. Your lines are «Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?» and «Il pèse environ deux kilos.». The staff lines are «Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?» and «Pour deux kilos, c'est 15 euros. C'est moins cher si c'est plus léger.». After you finish, check the answer key below.
Choose the right reply
You hear a staff member ask about weight. You need to choose a suitable answer from the options.
Your task: The staff member says «Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?». Which reply fits: «Il pèse environ deux kilos.» or «Pour deux kilos, c'est 15 euros. C'est moins cher si c'est plus léger.»? Say your choice aloud, then check the answer key.
Recall with correct roles
You will rebuild the exchange from memory. One person is the customer, the other is the staff member.
Your task: Customer: say the greeting and shipping request from «Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?», then answer the weight question with «Il pèse environ deux kilos.». Staff: ask the weight question from «Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?», then give the price reply from «Pour deux kilos, c'est 15 euros. C'est moins cher si c'est plus léger.». Do not change the order.
Common questions
Can I use «Combien ça coûte pour expédier ce colis ?» instead of «Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?» at the counter?
Yes. «Combien ça coûte pour expédier ce colis ?» asks how much it costs to ship the package. «Bonjour, je voudrais expédier ce colis. Combien ça coûte ?» adds a greeting and a request to ship. Both are suitable when you want to know the price.
What should I say if the staff member asks how much it weighs?
Use «Il pèse environ deux kilos.», which means "It weighs about two kilos." It directly answers the weight question in «Ça dépend du poids. Il pèse combien ?» and gives the staff member the information needed for the price.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask about shipping costChecked September 2026
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