#288 Making a Spare Key｜French Daily Life Phrases

You may need to make a spare key when you want to share a key with a family member or friend, or when you would like to keep a backup key for your apartment.

In many cases, you can use a key duplication service at a locksmith or a home improvement store. However, some types of keys cannot be duplicated, so it is important to check this in advance.

In this article, I will explain useful French expressions for making a spare key, following the flow of a typical conversation and highlighting important grammar points along the way.

Dialogue

A

Bonjour. J’aimerais faire un double de cette clé.
（Hello. I would like to have a copy of this key made.）

B

Bien sûr. Puis-je voir la clé ?
（Certainly. May I see the key?）

A

Oui, la voici.
（Yes, here it is.）

B

Pas de problème. Nous pouvons la reproduire.
（No problem. We can duplicate it.）

A

Combien cela coûtera-t-il ?
（How much will it cost?）

B

Cela coûtera 12 euros.
（It will cost 12 euros.）

A

Parfait, merci beaucoup.
（Perfect, thank you very much.）

1. Explaining That You Would Like a Spare Key Made

When you visit a locksmith or key-cutting service, the first thing you need to do is explain that you would like to have a duplicate key made.

The expression “j’aimerais” is the present conditional form of the verb “aimer” (to like). It is commonly used to express a polite request or wish and sounds much softer than “je veux” (I want).

In French, the phrase “faire un double de clé” is often used when talking about making a spare key.

The verb “faire” means “to make” or “to do.” In this context, “faire un double” means “to make a copy.”

The noun “un double” refers to a duplicate or spare copy and is frequently used when discussing spare keys.

The phrase “de cette clé” means “of this key.” Here, “cette” is a demonstrative adjective meaning “this.”

Since “clé” is a feminine noun, the demonstrative adjective “cette” is used in this example.

2. Confirming Whether the Key Can Be Duplicated

Some types of keys cannot be copied due to security restrictions. For this reason, it is important to confirm whether duplication is possible after showing the key to the staff member.

The expression “pas de problème” means “no problem” or “that is fine.” It is commonly used to indicate that a request can be handled without difficulty.

The sentence “Nous pouvons la reproduire” is often used by a staff member to indicate that the key can be copied.

The verb “pouvoir” means “can” or “to be able to.” In this sentence, “pouvons” is the first-person plural form in the present tense.

The verb “reproduire” means “to reproduce” or “to duplicate.” It is commonly used when talking about copying keys, documents, or data.

The pronoun “la” refers back to “cette clé.” Because “clé” is a feminine noun, the corresponding direct object pronoun is “la.”

As you continue learning French, you will notice that nouns are often replaced with object pronouns once they have already been mentioned.

3. Asking About the Cost

If the key can be duplicated, the next step is to ask about the price.

The word “combien” is an interrogative adverb meaning “how much” or “how many.” In this context, it is used to ask about the cost of duplicating a key.

The pronoun “cela” means “that.” Here, it refers to the process of making a duplicate key.

In everyday conversation, French speakers often use “ça” instead of “cela.”

The verb “coûtera” is the simple future form of “coûter” (to cost).

Because the speaker is asking about a service that has not yet been performed, the future tense is used to refer to the expected cost of the duplication.

Summary