Qu'est-ce que c'est... and Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça/cela ? = What is... / What's that? in French
There are several ways to ask something to be explained with What is it/this/that? in French.
Learn how to ask What is it/this/that? in French
1. What is it ?
C'est quoi ?What is it?
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?What is it?
Literally "what is it that it is?", it is pronounced [kess kuh say].
Note that est-ce is simply c'est inverted.
2. What is this/that ?
Here are equally valid ways of asking that question:
Qu'est-ce que c'est que cela ?What is that? / What is this?
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?What is that? / What is this?
C'est quoi ça ?What is this? / What is that?
Literally what is it that it is that that? (quite a mouthful!), this is pronounced simply [kess kuh seksah] and [kess kuh sek sullah].
Note that ça is the shortened form of cela.
Cela is quite formal, so you'll hear ça used much more frequently.
Qu'est-ce que cela ?What is this ? / What is that ?
This shorter form of the question is actually more formal in French, and will therefore require the more elegant cela.
You wouldn't say Qu'est-ce que ça ?
You wouldn't say Qu'est-ce que ça ?
ATTENTION:
When asking What is this/that? in the context of a choice, as in Which one is that?, you will then use Quel/quels/quelle/quelles ? = Which/what? (French Question Words).
3. What is [thing]?
C'est quoi [chose] ? or Qu'est-ce que c'est [chose] ?C'est quoi le Sacré Cœur à Paris ?What is the Sacré Cœur in Paris?
Qu'est-ce que c'est, le Sacré Cœur à Paris ?What is the Sacré Cœur in Paris?
C'est quoi un stylo ?What's a "stylo" (pen)?
Qu'est-ce que c'est, un stylo ?What's a "stylo" (pen)?
If you want to ask what something is by name, simply add the name of the thing after c'est quoi or qu'est-ce que c'est.
These are not the most elegant questions, but probably the most commonly used.
These are not the most elegant questions, but probably the most commonly used.
Qu'est-ce que c'est que + [chose] :
Note: que appears three times in this construction!
Qu'est-ce que c'est que le Sacré Coeur à Paris ?What is the Sacré Coeur in Paris?
Qu'est-ce que c'est qu'un stylo ?What's a "stylo" (pen)?
If you want to ask what something is by name, simply replace ça/cela with the name of the thing.
Remember to contract que into qu' if followed with a vowel or silent h.
Remember to contract que into qu' if followed with a vowel or silent h.
Qu'est-ce que + [chose] :
Qu'est-ce que le Sacré Coeur à Paris ?What is the Sacré Coeur in Paris?
Qu'est-ce qu'un stylo ?What's a "stylo" (pen)?
Once again, if you want to ask what something is by name, simply replace cela with the name of the thing.
Remember to contract que into qu' if followed with a vowel or silent h.
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