Have you ever spotted something that you couldn’t identify at first glance? Perhaps you’ve visited a modern art gallery in a French-speaking country and couldn’t quite identify what the painter was trying to depict?
Or perhaps you’ve been to the zoo and struggled to identify what the strange looking animal in front of you was?
Did you know that there’s a French expression to help you identify these things?
Qu’est-ce que c’est?
In this guide, I’m going to cover the phrase qu’est-ce que c’est in detail, so you can use it confidently.
Read on.
What does qu’est-ce que c’est mean?
Qu’est-ce que c’est is a French interrogative that means “what is it” in English.
When you look at the phrase, you might notice that there are many other words in this phrase.
We can reduce it to five individual words/phrases:
- We have qu’, which is the French word que (without its e, due to elision), which means “that”
- There’s the word est, which is the French, third person verb of être in the present tense, which means “is”
- We have the demonstrative adjective ce, which means “that”
- There’s the word que, again, in its full form (as a conjunction)
- We’ve got the word c’est, which means “it is”
Even though this long phrase might seem complex, just remember two things:
- It’s not the same as the interrogative phrase est-ce que, which is also used to ask questions in French but in different contexts such as to ask “will” something happen, “does” something happen or “is” something or someone there.
- Qu’est-ce que c’est is used specifically when you want to use the interrogative word “what”—not “will”, “does”, or “is”. It’s specifically for times when you need to ask “what is that?”
Using c’est quoi ça in informal contexts instead of qu’est-ce que c’est
There’s an alternative way to say qu’est-ce que c’est in informal contexts, which is c’est quoi, ça.
C’est quoi, ça is the French equivalent of using the interrogative phrase “what’s that?” in English.
Is qu’est-ce que c’est more formal than c’est quoi, ça?
If you wanted to know whether qu’est-ce que c’est is more formal than c’est quoi, ça, the answer is that yes.
Qu’est-ce que c’est is slightly more formal when compared with c’est quoi, ça.
You’ll normally hear it in formal conversations between people who don’t know each other well.
How else can you say c’est quoi, ça?
You might also use the phrase c’est quoi to ask “what is it?” in French.
This is normally used in everyday language and, again, is an informal phrase. It translates to English as “what’s this”, with the phrase c’est containing the words ce “that”, est “it is” and quoi, “what”.
C’est quoi is basically a shortened version of c’est quoi, ca?
Use it with friends and family, not with colleagues or people you don’t know.
When should you use qu’est-ce que c’est?
There are a few different contexts in which you can use qu’est-ce que c’est.
As well as for trying to identify unknown things, you can also use it to show your frustration, and you can use it to express your stunned emotion.
Let’s take a look at several usage examples of each of these contexts to clarify how qu’est-ce que c’est is used.
Using qu’est-ce que c’est to identify unknown things
Say you’re an art teacher and one of your students draws a picture that you cannot identify.
This calls for the phrase qu’est-ce que c’est. You might say to your student:
Cela a l’air très bien. Mais qu’est-ce que c’est ?
This looks very good. But what is it?
Or you might have heard someone practising a song on the piano and want to know the genre of the song. Again, you can use qu’est-ce que c’est to find out:
J’aime cette chanson. Qu’est-ce que c’est, la musique classique ?
I like this song. What is it, classical music?
Using* qu’est-ce que c’est* to show frustration
If you’re in a terrible mood because someone has upset you or insulted you, you might express that frustration with qu’est-ce que c’est:
Je ne pense pas être une personne arrogante. Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça!
I don’t think I am an arrogant person. What is the meaning of that?
Or someone might have insinuated that you’re a terrible driver when you always drive carefully. In this case you might use the same expression to show your frustration:
Je ne suis certainement pas un mauvais conducteur. Qu’est-ce que c’est que ça!
I am definitely not a terrible driver. What is the meaning of this!
Using qu’est-ce que c’est to show that you are shocked or stunned
If you’re shocked by something scandalous, like the fight that happened at the bar, you can use qu’est-ce que c’est que ça to express how shocked you are:
Cette personne était très arrogante. Mais qu’est-ce que c’est que ça ?
That person was very arrogant. But what is going on?
Or, perhaps your friend has shaved their hair and changed their look, and you barely recognize them anymore. You might say:
Wow, c’est un style intéressant. Mais qu’est-ce que c’est que ça ?
Wow, that’s an interesting style. But what is going on?
How to respond when someone asks you a question using qu’est-ce que c’est
So, you now know how qu’est-ce que c’est is used, but what if someone asks you this question in French. Do you know how to respond?
Well, when you’re answering someone, your response will typically begin with the phrase c’est. C’est, which combines the words ce (this) and est (the third person present verb être), means “it’s” in English. It is the same as when you say “this is…” in English
Of course, you’ll need to complete the sentence with the noun or object that the person is curious about to identify it, so let’s look at some examples to clarify how to respond.
If you’re growing plants in your garden and a neighbour visits your home, they might complement your garden and then ask what a particular plant is:
Ton jardin est magnifique. Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
Your garden is lovely. What is that?
When responding to this question, you might say “thanks a lot” and then identify what the plant is. But remember to begin with c’est when you’re identifying it:
Merci beaucoup. C’est un pommier.
Thanks a lot. It’s an apple tree.
If you’re trying out a new exciting recipe and your friends are curious to know what you’re cooking, they might say to you:
Ça sent délicieux. Qu’est-ce que c’est? Contient-il du chocolat ?
It smells delicious. What is it? Does it contain chocolate?
In response, you might say:
C’est une recette secrète. Je ne peux pas te dire les ingrédients !
It’s a secret récipe. I can’t tell you the ingredients!
What are some related phrases that are similar to qu’est-ce que c’est.
There are a few related phrases that are similar to qu’est-ce que c’est.
Some of the main ones are qu’est-ce que tu fais, qu’est-ce est arrive.
Let’s look at these phrases in turn and think about the contexts in which you would use them.
When do we use qu’est-ce que tu fais?
We use qu’est-ce que tu fais when we want to ask “what are you doing?” perhaps using an incredulous tone of voice for emphasis.
You can remember this one by keeping in mind that the verb faire means “do” in English. In this phrase, the verb faire is conjugated in the second person present tense fais, but you can use this phrase in the plural version as well.
For example, if your students are misbehaving, you might ask them:
Qu’est-ce que vous faites ?
What are you doing?
When you use this in the singular version, note the different verb conjugation and personal pronoun.
Instead of vous we use tu and instead of fais we use faites.
When do we use the phrase qu’est-ce est arrivé and qu’est-ce qui se passe?
Qu’est-ce est arrive is normally used when we want to ask someone “what happened?”
It is similar to the phrase qu’est-ce qui se passe, but is slightly different in structure. If the event has happened already, you would use qu’est-ce est arrive.
If the event is in progress, you would use qu’est-ce qui se passe.
This reflexive phrase means “what happened”, with the reflexive verb se passe meaning “to occur”.
Qu’est-ce que c’est is a handy French phrase
Since there’s always room for curiosity, and curiosity helps you learn, I’d recommend that you have the phrase qu’est-ce que c’est in your vocabulary.
Use it to ask questions and deepen your understanding of something that you wish to identify.
Whether you’re stuck on a French verb, or are looking to identify a beautiful modern painting, or want to know what the animal is at the zoo, keep qu’est-ce que c’est in mind to help you learn more.
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FAQs
: what is it? : what's that?
What is the difference between est-ce and est-ce que? ›
Est-ce que is the inversion of c'est que, literally, “it is that.” Hence the hyphen between est and ce: c'est = ce + est is inverted to est-ce. Though est-ce que is widespread in spoken French, it's much less common in writing because it's slightly informal.
Where does Qu est-ce que c'est come from? ›
The phrase qu'est-ce que c'est , which means “what is it?” in French will serve you well in situations like this.
How do you say did you call me in French? ›
What did you call me? Comment tu m'as appelé?
How do you say hey what's up in French? ›
How to say what's up in French French Classes Los Angeles - YouTube
Is it rude to say quoi in French? ›
In English, if you didn't hear someone, simply saying “What?” would be considered informal or even rude, and the same goes for quoi. As someone who's slightly hard of hearing, I learned this the hard way.
Can I go to the bathroom in France? ›
If you are visiting France and need to use the restroom, the easiest thing to do is to step in a coffee shop. Just ask: “est-ce que je peux utiliser vos toilettes s'il vous plaît” (may I use your restroom) with a smile, and it should be no problem.
What's the difference between C Est Bon and c'est bien? ›
The best, most concise explanation I've found for when to use which comes from this article: C'est bon is used when talking about physical sensations/the body. C'est bien is used when talking about general things/the mind.
What are the 3 forms of questions in French? ›
Asking questions
- There are 3 main ways to ask a question in French: • Formal: (question word quand, où, etc) + verb + subject + ? ...
- • Neutral: (question word) + est-ce que + subject + verb + ? Est-ce que vous connaissez Victor Hugo ? ...
- • More informal: subject + verb (+ question word) + ? Elle travaille chez vous ?
A second way to ask a “Yes / No” question is to use EST-CE QUE (pronounced 'ESS-kuh') before the statement. EST-CE QUE has no translation – it just acts like a question mark. We also use rising intonation at the end of the question when using EST-CE QUE.
Well, the question word est-ce que is used for formulating closed questions. In general, the answers imply a yes or a no.
...
=> No, I am not Spanish.
- Question 2: Est-ce que tu viens à la fête de Denis? => Are you coming at Denis' Party?
- Answer 1: Oui, mais je viendrai tard. ...
- Answer 2: Non?
In French, just place the question word* in front of est-ce que or inversion. Où est-ce que vous aimez voyager ? Où aimez-vous voyager?
...
* The question word(s) may be any of the following:
- Interrogative adjective (quel) + noun.
- Interrogative adverb (combien, comment, où, pourquoi, quand)
- Interrogative pronoun (qui, que)
/ˌʒə nə seɪ ˈkwɑː/ French for 'I don't know what': a pleasing quality that cannot be exactly named or described: Although he's not conventionally attractive, he has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes him popular with the ladies.
Can I say in French? ›
How to say "CAN" in French (to be able to) - YouTube
How do you say I don't like you in France? ›
The sentence, 'I don't like you' is Je ne t'aime pas when you are addressing someone with the informal 'you' in French. When you are speaking to someone with the formal 'you,' 'I don't like you' is Je ne vous aime pas.
How do you respond to Moi aussi? ›
Just like with other expressions, you can respond with “moi aussi” - “me too.”
What is the French response to thank you? ›
The usual response to merci is de rien (You're welcome – literally, It's nothing) or il n'y a pas de quoi. In a more formal context, you could say Je vous en prie or Je t'en prie.
How do you respond to back bonjour? ›
What is the proper response to bonjour? It's more than sufficient to simply say bonjour back in response to those who greet you, but if you want to go a step beyond, you can respond with comment allez-vous, which is the French equivalent of asking how it's going.
What are 3 greetings in French? ›
The most important French greetings include bonjour (hello), enchanté(e) (nice to meet you), bonsoir (good evening/hello), salut (hi), coucou (hey), Ça fait longtemps, dis donc (long time no see), Âllo (hello), Ça va? (how are you?), tu vas bien? (have you been well?), quoi de neuf? (what's up?), au revoir!
How do French people say bro? ›
Frère is French for 'brother' and frérot means 'bro'. Both frère and frérot are common terms of affection for men, used the same way as English speakers use 'bro'. Both, especially frérot, are slangy and young.
In French, the meaning of “Je ne sais pas” (pronounced juh nun say pah) is “I don't know”. Slang variations of “Je ne sais pas” include “Je sais pas”, J'sais pas” and “Chais pas”.
What if I say yes in French? ›
French will say oui, oui to emphasize their affirmative answer. Think of it as how you would use “I do” in English when it's not necessary: Oui, oui, j'aime ça!
Why do people say je ne sais quoi? ›
If you say something has a certain je ne sais quoi, you'll sound fancy instead of inarticulate. In French, je ne sais quoi literally means "I don't know what." It's used to capture an indescribable, special distinguishing feature, or to name some unnamable quality.
What is not allowed into France? ›
You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons. Check the rules about taking food and drink into the EU on the European Commission website.
Do you tip in France? ›
Tipping in Restaurants and Cafés
You are not required to tip waiters/waitresses. A 15% service fee is automatically included in ALL cafés, restaurants, bars, etc. as part of the price of each item (not on top of the total). Servers in France get salaries, paid vacations, health care, and living wages.
Can you drink tap water in France? ›
Can you drink tap water in France? Although many French people prefer bottled water, in most places in France, tap water is perfectly okay to drink. Some locales, like Paris, even pride themselves on the quality of their tap water.
Why do French people say bon? ›
The very common French word bon is an adjective that means "good" and is used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say tit for tat, cushy job, bright and early and more with this list of expressions using bon.
Why do French say bon? ›
It means well or can be used to stress something. Bon, in the rare instances where it is used as an adverb (see adverbial adjectives), means good or pleasant. J'ai bien dormi. I slept well.
How do you say good in France? ›
How to Say "Very Good" in French | French Lessons - YouTube
How do you introduce yourself in French? ›
Learn French - How to Introduce Yourself in French - YouTube
How to say YOUR AGE in French | #short - YouTube
How do you memorize question words in French? ›
French Question Words - YouTube
What are two ways to ask a yes or no question in French? ›
Asking yes/no questions in French with intonation, est-ce que, n'est-ce pas (French Questions)
What is the correct way to begin a yes no question in French? ›
How To Ask a Yes-No Question In French // French Grammar Course ...
What is the correct way to begin a yes or no question in French? ›
Asking yes no questions in French - YouTube
What are 10 examples of negative sentences in French? ›
Common Negative Words and Phrases
- ça ne fait rien (it doesn't matter)
- de rien (you're welcome) and il n'y a pas de quoi (you're welcome)
- jamais de la vie! (never! out of the question! not on your life!)
- pas du tout (not at all)
- pas encore (not yet)
- pas maintenant (not now)
- Où sont les toilettes ? (e) Where is the bathroom?
- Comment vas-tu ? (e) How are you? ...
- Comment t'appelles-tu ? (e) What's your name? ...
- Quel est ton numéro de téléphone ? (e) What's your phone number? ...
- Quel âge as-tu ? (e) How old are you? ...
- D'où venez-vous ? (e) ...
- Qu'est-ce que c'est? (s) ...
- Qu'avez-vous dit ? (s)
Respond with a simple “Je vais bien, et vous?” (“I'm doing well, and you?”). Likewise, you can just say “Bien, et vous?” (“Well, and you?”). The key is the et vous (and you), which prompts a similar answer.
How do u say what's your name in French? ›
If you'd like to say “What is your name?” in French, you generally have two options. To pose the question formally, you'd say “Comment vous-appelez vous? Speaking informally, you can simply ask “Comment t'appelles-tu?”
How do you order food in French? ›
To order food, you can simply use the indefinite article un (masculine) or une (feminine) + the item. You would normally add s'il vous plaît ('please'), at the end of the sentence: Une soupe de poisson, s'il vous plaît. One fish soup, please.
Qu'est-ce que. “Qu'est-ce que” and “Est-ce que” are frequently used in French to ask questions.
What's another word for je ne sais quoi? ›
What is another word for je ne sais quoi?
| mojo | allure |
|---|
| appeal | charm |
| charisma | magnetism |
| attractiveness | seductiveness |
| beauty | dazzle |
62 more rowsreview today's word: 1. A close opposite of JE NE SAIS QUOI is. A. VAPIDITY.
What French phrase means the very best? ›
French Phrases in English
| French phrase | meaning |
|---|
| crème de la crème | the very best person or thing of a particular kind [literally, the cream of the cream] |
| cri de coeur, cris de coeur | a real cry of anguish; passionate appeal or complaint [literally, cry from the heart] |
62 more rowsI love you so much. Je t'aime tellement.
Why don't you pronounce the ENT in French? ›
Here the letters "-ent" are located at the end of a conjugated verb, the verb "manger" (to eat) conjugated in the 3rd person of the plural, so you don't pronounce them. It's not "ils mangeant"; it's "ils mangent." Very common mistake.
How do Canadians say I love you in French? ›
The French for “I love you” is Je t'aime (informal) or je vous aime (formal or plural.) In most cases, “je t'aime” is used just like “I love you” in English.
What is the meaning of Qu est-ce que c'est in English? ›
From qu'est-ce que (“what (is it that)”) + c'est (“it is, this is”).
What is the meaning of Qu est-ce que nation? ›
“What is a Nation?” (French: Qu'est-ce qu'une nation ?) is an 1882 lecture by French historian Ernest Renan (1823–1892) at the University of Sorbonne, known for the statements that a nation is "a daily referendum", and that nations are based as much on what the people jointly forget as on what they remember.
What is the meaning of Qu est-ce qu'il a? ›
French translation & vocabulary with Frantastique. Improve your French and test our online French lessons for free. TEST YOUR FRENCH. Free with no obligation to buy. Qu'est-ce qu'il a, (mon nez) ? : What's wrong with (my nose)?
Often when translating from one language to another we need to consider the underlying meaning and how a phrase is used rather than the meaning of each individual word in the sentence. The literal translation of "Qu'est-ce que tu as?" is "What do you have?" "
How do you respond to est ce que? ›
Well, the question word est-ce que is used for formulating closed questions. In general, the answers imply a yes or a no.
...
=> No, I am not Spanish.
- Question 2: Est-ce que tu viens à la fête de Denis? => Are you coming at Denis' Party?
- Answer 1: Oui, mais je viendrai tard. ...
- Answer 2: Non?
C'est ce que c'est - goes for “ It is what it is.
How do you say what time is it in France? ›
The standard “What time is it?”: Quelle heure est-il ? The standard and most common way to ask “What time is it?” in French is Quelle heure est-il ?
How do you use ce qui and Ce Que in French? ›
Ce que vs Ce qui: The Rule of Thumb
The easiest way to know, if you have to use ce que or ce qui is to look at the word that follows. If the word that follows IS a verb or a reflexive pronoun, then you will use ce qui. If the word that follows IS NOT a verb or a reflexive pronoun, then you will use ce que.
What do you want in French? ›
4. what do you want? Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ?
How do you ask what does that mean in French? ›
qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
What does Qu est ce que tu Mijotes mean? ›
Qu'est-ce que tu mijotes ? What are you up to? -What?
What Qu means very often? ›
customarily. day in, day out. faithfully. in many instances. invariably.
How do I pronounce Qu est ce que? ›
How to pronounce 'Qu'est-ce que C'est' (What is This) in French
In French, just place the question word* in front of est-ce que or inversion. Où est-ce que vous aimez voyager ? Où aimez-vous voyager?
...
* The question word(s) may be any of the following:
- Interrogative adjective (quel) + noun.
- Interrogative adverb (combien, comment, où, pourquoi, quand)
- Interrogative pronoun (qui, que)
In French, the meaning of “Je ne sais pas” (pronounced juh nun say pah) is “I don't know”.
Can I say in French? ›
How to say "CAN" in French (to be able to) - YouTube
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