Search and buy on Kijiji in French and English
Quick answer
Try separate English and French item terms while keeping model codes and essential requirements stable. Confirm dates with a written month, prices with currency and dimensions with both units and labels.
Enlarge diagramKeep the requirement stable while changing the words
Sellers may describe the same type of item in English, French or a mixture. Try separate ordinary terms rather than assuming that changing the interface language translates every listing or makes every synonym match. Keep model numbers, dimensions and your collection limits unchanged until you deliberately revise the buying brief.
Kijiji’s search guide explains the native location and category controls. Use the same controls when comparing word variants so you can tell whether a change in wording helped. These query suggestions do not claim search-volume differences or guaranteed search-engine behaviour.
A bookcase search in two languages
A hypothetical buyer wants a particular BILLY bookcase size. The product family is a search clue; the actual dimensions, version, included shelves and condition still need verification.
| Stage | English query to try separately | French query to try separately |
|---|---|---|
| Family | IKEA BILLY bookcase | IKEA BILLY bibliothèque |
| Ordinary object | bookcase | bibliothèque |
| Broader wording | bookshelf | étagère |
| Version refinement | Add the verified article/model code | Keep that same code unchanged |
“Étagère” can describe shelving rather than the exact bookcase you want. A broader result set creates more candidates to inspect; it does not establish equivalence. Search one wording at a time and record useful listings so repeated ads do not look like separate options.
Other useful editorial starting points include desk / bureau, dresser / commode, and washing machine / laveuse. Context matters: “bureau” can refer to an office as well as a desk. Do not combine every English and French synonym into one long query or assume that an unsupported OR expression performs separate searches.
Clarify ambiguous dimensions and dates
A listing says “32 × 11 × 80, pickup 10/11.” The numbers omit units and dimension order, and the date could be interpreted differently. Do not silently convert them into the bookcase dimensions you hoped to find.
English: “Could you confirm the width, depth and height, with units? Does 10/11 mean 10 November or 11 October, and in which year?”
Français : « Pourriez-vous confirmer la largeur, la profondeur et la hauteur, avec les unités? Est-ce que 10/11 signifie le 10 novembre ou le 11 octobre, et de quelle année s’agit-il? »
If a seller writes “prix ferme,” treat it as a firm asking price rather than an invitation to bargain. “À donner” suggests a giveaway, but confirm the actual item, availability and collection conditions. Language does not establish the seller’s willingness to deliver or the condition of the goods.
Confirm the same agreement in either language
These paired messages express the same fictional agreement. They are examples to adapt, not messages sent to a seller.
English: “To confirm: $75 for the bookcase shown, measuring 80 cm wide × 28 cm deep × 202 cm high, including the four removable shelves and their supports. I can collect on 24 October 2026 at 14:00, after checking the dimensions, included parts and agreed condition. Is that correct?”
Français : « Pour confirmer : 75 $ CA pour la bibliothèque montrée, qui mesure 80 cm de largeur × 28 cm de profondeur × 202 cm de hauteur, avec les quatre tablettes amovibles et leurs supports. Je peux venir la chercher le 24 octobre 2026 à 14 h, après avoir vérifié les dimensions, les pièces incluses et l’état convenu. Est-ce exact? »
A written month, year, 24-hour time, currency and labelled dimensions reduce ambiguity. If the seller answers only the time, the contents and price are still unconfirmed. Ask a short follow-up rather than interpreting a partial reply as agreement to every point.
Kijiji’s messaging guide supports writing and reviewing a custom enquiry from the listing. Use the language the seller prefers where you can communicate accurately. You can ask, “Préférez-vous communiquer en français ou en anglais?” Do not infer language ability or personal background from one advertisement.
Recheck the item at collection
Bring the agreed measurements and included-piece list. If the actual item differs, explain the specific mismatch and pause the decision. A translation tool can help with ordinary wording, but it cannot verify a model or settle an unclear condition statement on its own.
Keep the final agreement in the language or paired wording both people understood. Use Kijiji search filters for control behaviour and the search builder to organise variants. When using Sift word filters, review exclusions too: an English-only or overly broad exclusion may change what remains visible without improving the match to your requirement.