Coûter (en. Cost)

/ku.te/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
verb
Indicate the price of an object or a service.
The book costs twenty euros.
Le livre coûte vingt euros.
Require a sacrifice or an effort.
It can cost a lot of time.
Cela peut coûter beaucoup de temps.
Be a financial burden for someone.
This expense will cost the company dearly.
Cette dépense va coûter cher à l'entreprise.

Etymology

From Old French 'coster', derived from Latin 'constare'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

Cost an arm and a leg
To be very expensive.
Coûter les yeux de la tête
Cost an arm
To be very costly.
Coûter un bras
Cost an arm and a leg
To be very burdensome.
Coûter la peau des fesses

Related Words

price
Amount of money requested or paid for a good or a service.
prix
value
Estimation of the importance or quality of a good.
valeur
expense
Sum of money allocated to the acquisition of goods or services.
dépense

Slang Meanings

Cost an arm
This restaurant costs an arm!
Ce resto, il coûte un bras !
Cost an arm and a leg
This car costs an arm and a leg.
Cette voiture coûte les yeux de la tête.