To ask questions with what in French, we actually use different words or expressions depending on the context.
What? (on its own)
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 ?
What [...]?
To ask What [...]? in French, you can either:
- Use the expression Qu'est-ce que at the start, followed by your statement in the normal order.
-> Note that que becomes qu' when followed by a vowel or mute 'h'.
OR
- Keep your normal statement followed by quoi at the end.
ATTENTION:
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)
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
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