Hi Ian,
You are more likely to find -
C'est quoi? in spoken French, as it is more informal than
'Quest-ce-que c'est?
Hope this helps!
Look at these questions:
A way to ask What [...]? in French is to use the expression Qu'est-ce que [...] ? followed by your statement in the normal order.
Note also that you use qu'est-ce que if it appears at the start but quoi at the end.
What?
To simply ask What? on its own, using Quoi ?, though correct, is actually considered a bit abrupt and rude. Instead,we consider it more polite to use Comment ?:
ATTENTION:
While qu'est-ce que means what ..., est-ce que introduces a YES or NO question (is it that...).
See Asking yes/no questions with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas
See Asking yes/no questions with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas
Que can be used at the start, but the statement will then be inverted (it's a more formal way of asking questions).
See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent (except il, elle, on forms)
See Forming inverted questions in Le Présent (except il, elle, on forms)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A Forum 6 questions, 9 answers
IanKwiziq community member
So what is the difference between qu'est-ce que c'est and c'est quoi in terms of formality?
Asked 3 months ago
Ian asked:View original
So what is the difference between qu'est-ce que c'est and c'est quoi in terms of formality?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
ShirKwiziq community member
What does it mean by...
"Note also that you use qu'est-ce que if it appears at the start but quoi at the end."
Asked 6 months ago
It means that you can't have quoi starting a sentence and, instead, use qu'est-ce que.
Qu'est-ce que tu fais? or Tu fais quoi? but NOT Quoi tu fais?
Shir asked:View original
What does it mean by...
"Note also that you use qu'est-ce que if it appears at the start but quoi at the end."
Don't have an account yet? Join today
RobKwiziq community member
There is a typographical error in this lesson.
"Instead, we'll consider more polite to use "Comment ?":"
Asked 1 year ago
Rob asked:View original
There is a typographical error in this lesson.
"Instead, we'll consider more polite to use "Comment ?":"
Don't have an account yet? Join today
PatriciaKwiziq community member
What vs Who
In my quiz question it began "Qu'est-ce que tu ....." and I answered "What .." but it showed the correct answer to begin with "Who .." I can't see how that is correct.
Asked 2 years ago
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Patricia,
I am unable to locate the question in the kwiz that you are referring to; however, it is very possible that there is an incorrect question I know the team is quite appreciative to you for pointing this out as it helps them tremendously.
In the meantime, here are a couple of locutions with their respective translations:
qu'est-ce que --> that is what
qu'est-ce qui --> that is what
qui est-ce qui --> who is who
J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde français depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet
Chris Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
"Qu'est-ce que s'est passé?" -- What happend.
"Qui est-ce que tu as rencontré" -- Whom did you meet?
Que = what. The final "e" gets nixed when followed by the "e" of "est".
Qui = who. The final "i" is impervious to the vowel that succeeds it.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Patricia asked:View original
What vs Who
In my quiz question it began "Qu'est-ce que tu ....." and I answered "What .." but it showed the correct answer to begin with "Who .." I can't see how that is correct.
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Romni,
If possible, could you be more precise in your question.
Bonne chance
Don't have an account yet? Join today
CameronKwiziq Q&A regular contributor
How to ask what?
I was taught that to ask 'what' when you didn't understand what was just said, you would say, 'comment?' Is this correct or should I say 'quoi?' instead?
Asked 3 years ago
AurélieKwiziq team member
Bonjour Cameron !
This is indeed considered as more polite to use "Comment ?" rather than the blunter "Quoi ?" when asking "what?" in French.
However, this only applies to asking "What?", and in any other more developed questions, "comment" reverts to its actual meaning of "how".
I hope it's helpful!
À bientôt !
Cameron asked:View original
How to ask what?
I was taught that to ask 'what' when you didn't understand what was just said, you would say, 'comment?' Is this correct or should I say 'quoi?' instead?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
