Faire les courses vs Faire les magasins to talk about shopping (French Expressions with faire)

In French, there are two distinct expressions when talking about shopping.

Talking about shopping in French

Look at these examples:

Ma mère a fait les courses samedi matin.My mum went food shopping on Saturday morning

Elodie a fait du shopping avec sa mère. / Elodie a fait les magasins avec sa mère.Elodie went shopping with her mum.

In French, you have more than one way to say "to go shopping", depending on the context:

"Faire les courses" 

This expression refers exclusively to food and utilities shopping, like going to the supermarket.
Basically, any "not leisure" shopping!

 

"Faire les magasins/Faire du shopping" 

These expressions both refer to the pleasure side of shopping, such as clothes, entertainment shopping. "Faire du shopping" is more commonly used in speech.

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Examples and resources

faire les courses


Je ne fais jamais les courses.I never go food shopping
Ma mère a fait les courses samedi matin.My mum went food shopping on Saturday morning

faire les magasins / faire du shopping


Avec mes copines, on va faire du shopping ce weekend.With my girlfriends, we're going shopping this weekend.
J'adore faire les magasins ! / J'adore faire du shopping !I love to go shopping!
Elodie a fait du shopping avec sa mère. / Elodie a fait les magasins avec sa mère.Elodie went shopping with her mum.
Clever stuff happening!