French · Emotions & Descriptions
"Expensive" in French: cher / chère
cher / chère
Expensive in French is cher before or after masculine nouns and chère with feminine ones. C'est cher means it's expensive. Trop cher is too expensive.
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Ce manteau est vraiment cher.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce cher / chère
Say it
shehr
/ʃɛʁ/ /ʃɛʁ/
SHEHR. Soft ch as in shoe; open e. Feminine chère sounds the same in many accents but adds e in spelling.
"Expensive" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| cher / chère | expensive Agrees with the noun. | Agrees with the noun. |
| c'est cher | it's expensive Price reaction. | Price reaction. |
| trop cher | too expensive Refusal or negotiation. | Refusal or negotiation. |
| plus cher que | more expensive than Comparisons. | Comparisons. |
How to use cher / chère in real life
- 1Shop window
Ce manteau est vraiment cher.
This coat is really expensive.
Cher with masculine manteau.
- 2Restaurant
La carte des vins est un peu chère.
The wine list is a bit expensive.
Chère with feminine carte.
- 3Comparing cities
Paris est plus cher que Lyon pour le logement.
Paris is more expensive than Lyon for housing.
Plus cher que.
Mistakes English speakers make with cher / chère
Incorrect: Une voiture cher.
Correct: Une voiture chère.
Feminine noun → chère.
Incorrect: C'est expensive.
Correct: C'est cher.
Use cher, not English expensive.
Good to know
Market banter uses c'est trop cher with a smile. Cher also means dear (mon cher) — context separates price from affection.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Deciding on a purchase
ChatPal
Tu trouves ça cher ?
Do you find that expensive?
You
Oui, trop cher pour moi.
Yes, too expensive for me.
ChatPal
On regarde autre chose.
We'll look at something else.
You
Bonne idée.
Good idea.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Expensive" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Expensive" in French
How do you say expensive in French?
Cher (m) / chère (f).
How do you say it's expensive?
C'est cher.
How do you say too expensive?
Trop cher.
Does cher change?
Yes: chère with feminine nouns.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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