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La Banque et les Finances — French money vocabulary | Vocabulary

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Accounts, cards and paying — everyday money French. This French accounts cards paying everyday money vocabulary list gives you 22 essential words — from une banque (a bank) to découvert (overdrawn) — each with audio and its English translation. Use it to build the French words you need to talk about accounts cards paying everyday money, then test yourself with the games below.

La Banque et les Finances

Accounts, cards and paying — everyday money French

Le compte 🏦

une banquea bank
un compte (bancaire)a (bank) account
un compte courantcurrent account
un compte épargnesavings account
le soldethe balance
un relevéa statement
un RIBbank details slip
un IBANIBAN

Payer & retirer 💳

une carte bancairea bank card
un distributeur (DAB)a cash machine (ATM)
retirer de l’argentto withdraw money
déposerto deposit
un virementa bank transfer
un prélèvementa direct debit
payer en espècesto pay in cash
un chèquea cheque

Emprunter & épargner 📈

un prêta loan
emprunterto borrow
rembourserto pay back
épargner / économiserto save
les frais bancairesbank charges
découvertoverdrawn
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🎬 The 20-second version

5 quick questions on « La Banque et les Finances » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →

📘 Opening & running an account

  • To open an account: ouvrir un compte; you’ll need a justificatif de domicile (proof of address) and a pièce d’identité.
  • Un virement = a transfer YOU make; un prélèvement = an automatic debit (rent, bills) the company takes.
  • Faire un virement needs the recipient’s RIB / IBAN — the phrase « tu peux me passer ton RIB ? » is everyday French.
  • Être à découvert = to be overdrawn; les agios = overdraft charges (dreaded word!).
  • Card verbs: composer son code (enter your PIN), la carte est refusée (declined), sans contact (contactless).

🔊 Useful phrases

Je voudrais ouvrir un compte, s’il vous plaît.I’d like to open an account, please.
Je dois retirer de l’argent au distributeur.I need to withdraw money from the ATM.
Tu peux me faire un virement ?Can you make me a transfer?
Quel est le solde de mon compte ?What’s my account balance?

🔊 Example sentences

J’ai payé le loyer par virement.I paid the rent by bank transfer.
Ma carte a été refusée.My card was declined.
Il faut économiser pour les vacances.We need to save up for the holidays.

✍️ Practice

to withdraw money = ___ de l’argent (at the ATM)

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retirer

a bank transfer = un ___ (you send it)

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virement

to be overdrawn = être à ___ (negative balance)

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découvert

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🎯 More practice — vocabulary recall — both directions

How do you say « a bank »? (recall)

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une banque

What does « un compte courant » mean? (recall)

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current account

How do you say « the balance »? (recall)

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le solde

What does « un RIB » mean? (recall)

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bank details slip

How do you say « a bank card »? (recall)

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une carte bancaire

What does « retirer de l’argent » mean? (recall)

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to withdraw money

How do you say « a bank transfer »? (recall)

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un virement

What does « payer en espèces » mean? (recall)

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to pay in cash

French accounts cards paying everyday money vocabulary — FAQ

How do you say common accounts cards paying everyday money words in French?

For example: a bank is « une banque », a (bank) account is « un compte (bancaire) », current account is « un compte courant ». The full list above has 22 French accounts cards paying everyday money words, each with audio so you can hear the pronunciation.

What are the most useful French accounts cards paying everyday money words to learn first?

Start with the basics: une banque (a bank), un compte (bancaire) (a (bank) account), un compte courant (current account), un compte épargne (savings account), le solde (the balance), un relevé (a statement). Master these core French words before moving on to the rest of the list.

How can I memorise French accounts cards paying everyday money vocabulary?

Learn the words in small themed groups, say each one out loud with the audio, and use it in a short sentence about your own life. Spaced repetition is what makes new vocabulary stick — see our guide to learning French vocabulary that sticks.

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