n'est-ce pas

English

Etymology

From French

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /nɛsˈpa/, /nɛsˈpɑː/

Phrase

n'est-ce pas

1. Used to form tag questions.
   • 1935, Thomas Wolfe, Of Time and the River, page 763:

     I know him well, we artists have the common touch, n'est-ce pas?

   • 2003, Richard Pevear, Larissa Volokhonsky, The Adolescent‎, translation of original by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, published 1875, page 527:

     It is just a little quarrel of two most worthy women, n'est-ce pas

French

Etymology

Literally, "is it not?"

Pronunciation

• IPA: /n‿ɛs pa/

Phrase

n'est-ce pas

1. used as an expression of affirmation after a statement, often translated into English as a tag question