qu'est-ce que

French

Etymology

Literally, “what is this that”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k‿ɛs kə/

• Audio:

  (file)

Pronoun

qu’est-ce que

1. what, what is it that (used as an interrogative for a direct object)

   Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? ― What are you doing? / What do you do? / What is it that you do?

   Qu’est-ce qu’il a mangé ? ― What has he eaten?

2. what is (used as an interrogative for a definition)

   Qu’est-ce que la liberté ? ― What is freedom?

   Qu’est-ce qu’un blog ? ― What is a blog?

See also

• est-ce que
• qu’est-ce qui
• qu’est-ce que c’est