Courses vs. provisions vs. épicerie
In French, the words courses, provisions, and épicerie can all translate to "groceries" in English, but they are used in very different contexts. While courses refers to the general everyday errand of buying food, provisions implies stocking up on supplies for the future. Meanwhile, épicerie typically refers to the grocery store itself in France, but is the standard term used for groceries and grocery shopping in Canadian French.
Courses
The word courses is the most common and versatile way to say "groceries" or "shopping" in everyday French in France. It is almost always used in the plural form with the verb faire to describe the routine errand of going to the supermarket to buy food and daily necessities. It focuses on the action of shopping or the actual bags of items you bring home.
Je dois faire les courses après le travail car le frigo est vide.
(I need to get groceries after work because the fridge is empty.)
Peux-tu m'aider à ranger les courses dans la cuisine ?
(Can you help me put the groceries away in the kitchen?)
Elle a laissé ses sacs de courses sur la table de la salle à manger.
(She left her grocery bags on the dining room table.)
Nous avons fait de grosses courses pour préparer le dîner de ce soir.
(We got a lot of groceries to prepare dinner tonight.)
Faire les courses le samedi matin est toujours fatiguant à cause de la foule.
(Grocery shopping on Saturday morning is always tiring because of the crowds.)
Provisions
The word provisions translates to "supplies" or "groceries" when referring to a stockpile of food and essential items meant to last for a certain period. It is used when people buy in bulk, prepare for an event like a storm or a camping trip, or simply want to fill their pantry for the long term. It highlights the idea of hoarding or securing future food security rather than doing a quick daily errand.
Avant la tempête de neige, ils ont acheté assez de provisions pour une semaine.
(Before the snowstorm, they bought enough groceries for a week.)
Nous devons faire des provisions avant de partir camper dans la montagne.
(We need to stock up on supplies before going camping in the mountains.)
La cave est remplie de provisions pour passer l'hiver confortablement.
(The cellar is filled with groceries to get through the winter comfortably.)
Il a fait de grandes provisions d'eau et de conserves.
(He bought a large supply of water and canned goods.)
Nos provisions diminuent rapidement avec tous ces invités à la maison.
(Our grocery supplies are dwindling quickly with all these guests in the house.)
Épicerie
In European French, the word épicerie generally refers to the local grocery store itself or dry grocery items, rather than the act of shopping. However, in Canadian French, épicerie is the standard translation for "groceries". Quebecers say faire l'épicerie exactly how the French say faire les courses to mean going grocery shopping.
Je vais à l'épicerie du coin pour acheter du lait et du pain.
(I am going to the local grocery store to buy milk and bread.)
Au Québec, il est commun de dire que l'on va faire l'épicerie le dimanche.
(In Quebec, it is common to say that we go grocery shopping on Sundays.)
Le rayon épicerie de ce supermarché propose beaucoup de produits internationaux.
(The dry groceries aisle of this supermarket offers many international products.)
Ma mère a laissé la liste d'épicerie sur le comptoir de la cuisine.
(My mother left the grocery list on the kitchen counter.)
Le petit commerce de mon grand-père était une épicerie de quartier.
(My grandfather's small business was a neighborhood grocery store.)
Summary
To summarize, choose courses for your regular grocery shopping errands and the items you bring home in France. Opt for provisions when you are stocking up on food supplies for the long term or a specific event. Finally, use épicerie when referring to a small grocery store in Europe, or use it as the direct equivalent of courses if you are speaking Canadian French.