totalement gratuit

Using this phrase is very simple. You usually place it right after the noun you are describing. For example, un service totalement gratuit. Just remember one small rule. French nouns have genders. If the thing is feminine, add an e to the end. It becomes totalement gratuite. You can also use it as a standalone sentence. If someone asks "How much?", just say C'est totalement gratuit ! and watch them smile.

Use it whenever you find a great deal. It is perfect for telling friends about a new app. Use it at a local market when a vendor gives a sample. It works well in professional settings too. A company might offer a formation totalement gratuite (completely free training). You will also see it on posters for summer festivals or public parks. It is a very positive, high-energy phrase.

Be careful not to use this for people. If you say a person is gratuit, it sounds very strange. It might even sound like an insult. If you want to say a friend is "free" to hang out, use libre. Also, do not use it for "freedom" in a political sense. That is la liberté. This phrase is strictly about money and the lack of a price tag. Don't use it for "free-range" eggs either; that's a different word entirely!

France has a deep love for "la gratuité" (freeness). Many public services are funded by the state. This makes them feel totalement gratuits at the point of use. For example, most public museums are free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. If you are under 26 and live in the EU, many famous sites like the Louvre are always totalement gratuits. It is a point of national pride that culture should be accessible to everyone.

You will often hear C'est cadeau. This literally means "It's a gift." It is a very friendly way to say something is free. In a restaurant, the waiter might say C'est offert par la maison. This means the house is paying for your drink or dessert. If you want to sound a bit more casual or hip, you can use the word gratis. It is short, punchy, and understood by everyone.