Vide-grenier: means “empty the attic”. This is more similar to a yard sale or garage sale. A lot of the vendors at these vide-greniers are mainly individuals selling their wares with a few professionals through out the event. The event can take place from a few days during the weekend to longer. You’ll find a little bit of everything at a vide-grenier.
Brocante: a slightly more upscale version of the vide-grenier. Here you will usually see more professionals present selling their items in stalls. This also means that prices are a bit higher and you may be able to negotiate prices down, but do not be dismayed if some vendors do not budge on items. You will be able to find a lot of gems at these types of markets. Brocantes can also have a theme (vintage, specific decades, by item, etc…). They will be named appropriately.
Braderie: Think of a brocante, but on a much larger scale and usually with activities for children and food stalls. These lean more towards a vide-grenier in terms of items, quality, and pricing. This is can have a festival feel where you can buy other peoples’ items.
Marché aux puces: a good, old-fashioned flea market where there will be everything under the sun, although typically no food is sold. It can either be a permanent location (marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen) or a temporary event held either yearly, quarterly, or more frequently.