Complicated way of saying 'what is'

Tom A.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Complicated way of saying 'what is'

In the sentence 'Savez-vous ce que c'est qu'une "irrizina" ?', what is that second 'que' before the 'une' ?

This question relates to:French interactive reading exercise "Hallowe'en in France"

Reading B2, Celebrations & Important Dates, Listening or Seeing B2

Asked 3 years ago
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Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

There's a lesson on different ways of asking "what is this?"

Qu'est-ce que c'est... and Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça/cela ? = What is... / What's that? in French

One option is:

Qu'est-ce que ce que ça? -- What is that?

The second que derives from that phrase. And if you now ask what this que is doing in that phrase in the first place, I'd have to take resort to saying that it's idiomatic.

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Tom A. asked:View original

Complicated way of saying 'what is'

In the sentence 'Savez-vous ce que c'est qu'une "irrizina" ?', what is that second 'que' before the 'une' ?

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