Learning how to say what in French is an important step for anyone starting to learn the language. The word What may look simple in English, but in French, it changes depending on the tone, meaning, and situation.
From polite questions to casual conversations, knowing the right way to use “what” helps you sound more natural and confident when speaking French.
It also helps you understand native speakers better during movies, songs, or daily chats.
With a little practice, you’ll quickly learn how and when to use each form of “what” in French with ease.
Say What in French
This guide explores 15 different ways to say what in French, complete with examples, cultural notes, and real-life conversational usage to help you sound natural and confident.
15 Ways to Say What in French
| # | French Phrase | English Meaning | Usage Type | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quoi | What | Informal | Quoi ? Je n’ai pas entendu. |
| 2 | Que | What | Formal | Que fais-tu ce weekend ? |
| 3 | Qu’est-ce que | What | Standard | Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? |
| 4 | Qu’est-ce qui | What (subject) | Neutral | Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? |
| 5 | Comment | What? / Sorry? | Polite | Comment ? |
| 6 | Pardon | Sorry? / What? | Polite | Pardon ? |
| 7 | Quoi ?! | What?! | Informal | Quoi ?! |
| 8 | C’est quoi ça ? | What is that? | Informal | C’est quoi ça ? |
| 9 | Quoi encore ? | What now? | Informal | Quoi encore ? |
| 10 | C’est quoi, ça ? | What is this? | Neutral | C’est quoi, ça ? |
| 11 | De quoi | About what | Neutral | De quoi parlait-il ? |
| 12 | À quoi | To what / For what | Intermediate | À quoi tu penses ? |
| 13 | Pour quoi | For what | Clarifying | Pour quoi ? |
| 14 | Quel / Quelle / Quels / Quelles | Which / What | Formal | Quelle robe préfères-tu ? |
| 15 | Quoi de neuf | What’s new | Friendly | Quoi de neuf ? |
1. Quoi – “What” (informal, standalone)
Origin:
Derived from Latin quid, meaning “what.”
Example:
👤 A: Tu viens ce soir ?
👤 B: Quoi ? Je n’ai pas entendu.
Use:
Informal and often used at the end of a question or alone. Be mindful — it can sound rude if your tone is sharp.
2. Que – “What” (formal question starter)
Origin:
Used in formal or literary French, often with inversion.
Example:
👤 A: Que fais-tu ce week-end ?
👤 B: Je vais à Paris.
Use:
Reserved for formal writing or sophisticated speech.
3. Qu’est-ce que… ? – “What” (common question form)
Origin:
A contraction of Que est-ce que, literally “What is it that…”
Example:
👤 A: Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
👤 B: Je regarde un film.
Use:
Standard and most used in spoken French.
4. Qu’est-ce qui… ? – “What” (as subject)
Origin:
Used when “what” is the subject of the sentence.
Example:
👤 A: Qu’est-ce qui se passe ici ?
👤 B: Il y a un problème avec l’ordinateur.
Use:
Slightly formal but grammatically correct and common.
5. Comment ? – “What?” / “Sorry?”
Origin:
Literally “how?”, but used to ask someone to repeat what they said.
Example:
👤 A: Le concert commence à huit heures.
👤 B: Comment ?
Use:
Polite and soft way to say “What?”
6. Pardon ? – “What?” / “Sorry?”
Origin:
From pardoner — to forgive.
Example:
👤 A: Je vais à l’opéra.
👤 B: Pardon ?
Use:
Very polite; perfect in professional or formal settings.
7. Quoi ?! – “What?!” (Surprised or Annoyed)
Origin:
Comes from the basic word quoi, used with strong emotion to show surprise or disbelief.
Example:
👤 A: J’ai mangé ton dessert.
👤 B: Quoi ?!
Use:
Informal; shows shock, disbelief, or irritation.
8. C’est quoi ça ? – “What is that?”
Origin:
A casual, modern phrase meaning “What is that?” used in spoken French to react to something unexpected.
Example:
👤 A: Regarde cette chose !
👤 B: C’est quoi ça ?
Use:
Common, casual phrase when reacting to something surprising or strange.
9. Quoi encore ? – “What now?”
Origin:
Combines quoi (what) and encore (again) to express mild frustration or irritation.
Example:
👤 A: Tu peux venir ?
👤 B: Quoi encore ?
Use:
Informal and expressive, often used when annoyed.
10. C’est quoi, ça ? – “What is this?”
Origin:
Everyday spoken phrase meaning “What is this?” commonly used in casual French.
Example:
👤 A: J’ai trouvé ça dans ton sac.
👤 B: C’est quoi, ça ?
Use:
Similar to #8, natural in daily conversations.
11. De quoi… ? – “About what?”
Origin:
Comes from the preposition de (about/of) and quoi (what), used in follow-up or indirect questions.
Example:
👤 A: Il parlait de quelque chose.
👤 B: De quoi parlait-il ?
Use:
Useful in indirect or clarifying questions.
12. À quoi… ? – “To what?” / “What for?”
Origin:
Formed with à (to) + quoi (what); used with verbs that require the preposition à.
Example:
👤 A: À quoi tu penses ?
👤 B: À mes vacances.
Use:
Intermediate-level phrase; helps express thoughts or intentions.
13. Pour quoi ? – “For what?”
Origin:
Derived from pour (for) + quoi (what). Unlike pourquoi (why), it focuses on purpose rather than reason.
Example:
👤 A: J’ai besoin d’argent.
👤 B: Pour quoi ?
Use:
Distinct from pourquoi; means “for what purpose.”
14. Quel / Quelle / Quels / Quelles – “Which” / “What”
Origin:
Comes from the Latin qualis, meaning “of what kind.” It agrees with the gender and number of the noun it describes.
Example:
👤 A: Quelle robe préfères-tu ?
👤 B: Celle-ci !
Use:
Requires agreement in gender and number; common in questions of choice.
15. Quoi de neuf ? – “What’s new?”
Origin:
A fixed casual phrase meaning “What of new?” — a French equivalent of “What’s up?”
Example:
👤 A: Salut ! Quoi de neuf ?
👤 B: Pas grand-chose !
Use:
Friendly, casual greeting between peers or friends.
🧠 Cultural Tip
Tone matters in French!
“Quoi?” said softly is fine between friends, but said sharply can sound rude. When in doubt, use “Pardon ?” or “Comment ?” — they’re polite and universal.
💬 FAQs
Q1: What is the most common way to say “what” in French?
👉 Qu’est-ce que… ? is the most common and neutral way to say “what” in daily French conversation.
Q2: Can I use “quoi” at the start of a question?
👉 No, “quoi” usually goes at the end or stands alone. Use Que or Qu’est-ce que at the beginning instead.
Q3: What’s the polite way to say “What?” when you didn’t hear something?
👉 Use Pardon ? or Comment ? — both are polite and natural.
Q4: What’s the difference between “Pourquoi” and “Pour quoi”?
👉 Pourquoi means “why,” while pour quoi means “for what (reason/purpose).”
Q5: What’s a fun, casual way to say “What’s up?” in French?
👉 Say Quoi de neuf ? — it’s the French equivalent of “What’s new?” or “What’s up?”
Conclusion:
Mastering the different ways to say what in French unlocks deeper understanding, more fluent conversations, and more natural speech. From the polite Pardon ? to the expressive Quoi ?!, each version adds nuance and emotion to your communication. So next time someone says something you didn’t catch or surprises you — you’ll know exactly which “what” to use!
