Qu'est-ce (en. Who is it)

/kɛs/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

noun

Used to ask a question about the identity or nature of something.

What are you doing tonight?

Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce soir ?

Used to express surprise or disbelief.

What is that?

Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ?

Serves to introduce an explanation or clarification.

What do I mean by that?

Qu'est-ce que je veux dire par là ?

Origin of the expression from old French. 'Qu'est' is a contraction of 'que est', meaning 'what is it'.

what do you think?

Request for an opinion on a subject.

qu'est-ce que tu penses ?

what is happening?

Request for explanations about a situation.

qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

what does that mean?

Inquiry about the meaning of a phrase or a word.

qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?

who

Interrogative pronoun used to ask questions about people.

qui

what

Interrogative pronoun used to ask questions about objects or ideas.

quoi

where

Interrogative pronoun used to ask questions about a place.

où

What is it?

What is that noise?

C'est quoi ce bruit ?

What is it?

What is that over there?

Kessessé, là-bas ?