In case you want to buy shoes in Paris and are lost in translation: Shoe Shopping in France
Find out what escarpins and ballerines are, and discover that espadrilles are called espadrilles in French, except when they’re high, in which case you must use the words talons compensés. And — very important — “Quel est le prix de ces chaussures ?” means “What is the price for these shoes?”
Note: the shoes on the photo belong to a lady who doesn’t have to ask that last question.
poor crocodile!
for readers from Canada and the USA – the linked article translates “escarpins” as “court shoes”, this is what we call “pumps”; and “ballerines” as “pumps” which we would call “ballerinas” or “flats”.
Running shoes (runners) are also called “sneakers”, “trainers” in the UK, and “baskets” in France … whereas “trainers” here would probably be taken to mean “cross-trainers”, and “baskets” would imply basketball shoes/booties, with high or low ankles.
Jen: Isn’t life confusing?