« Magasiner »
To go shopping. To shop around.
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Answer in the YouTube comments: What would you magasiner this weekend?
In Québec, « magasiner » means to go shopping, from « magasin », a store. In France you’ll mostly hear « faire du shopping ». It also means to shop around. First written in 1864, everyday Québec French since the early 1900s.
France and Québec
« Faire du shopping » is an English borrowing, widespread in European French. The OQLF says « magasiner » replaces it to advantage. Both are real French. Neither is wrong.
When to use it
Standard in Québec. Fine at work, with family, in writing. No familiar label in Usito.
Example lines
- « On va magasiner samedi? »Shall we go shopping Saturday?From the Short
- « Magasiner un téléphone. »Shop around for a phone.Usito, sense 2
- « Magasiner un appareil, une maison, une voiture. »Shop around for a device, a house, a car.Usito, sense 2
Practise it
2 questionsStandard in Québec. Fine at work, with family, in writing. No familiar label in Usito.
Practise with flashcardsEvery Sunday, the week in Québec French
The week’s expressions and a two-minute quiz, by email every Sunday. Plus a free printable sheet of every expression we’ve taught so far, right away.
Sources
Every claim in the video is checked against these.
- Usito, entry « magasiner »Meaning, sense 2 (shop around), etymology (1864), Q/C with no familiar label.
- OQLF, Banque de dépannage linguistique, « Emploi et sens de magasiner et de magasinage »« Faire du shopping » in European French; « magasiner » replaces it to advantage; widespread since the early 1900s.