French Question Words

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Mastering French Question Words: Ask Away!

 

Bonjour! For those of you immersed in the charm of French, today we'll delve into the world of French question words that will resolve your curiosities. "Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?" Let's conquer the types and usage of question words so you can freely express all these questions in French!

 

1. Qui (kee): Who are you looking for?

 

Qui means "who" and is used in the subject or object position.

• Examples:
  • "Qui est là?" (kee ay lah? - Who's there?)
  • "Qui cherchez-vous?" (kee shair-shay voo? - Who are you looking for?)
  • "Qui a mangé le dernier gâteau?" (kee ah mahn-zhay luh dern-yay gah-toh? - Who ate the last cake?)

For more emphasis, you can use "Qui est-ce qui" (kee eh-suh kee - who) to emphasize the subject or "Qui est-ce que" (kee eh-suh kuh - whom) to emphasize the object.

• Examples:
  • "Qui est-ce qui chante?" (kee eh-suh kee shant? - Who is singing?)
  • "Qui est-ce que vous aimez?" (kee eh-suh kuh voo zem-ay? - Who do you like?)
  • "Qui est-ce qui va faire les courses?" (kee eh-suh kee vah fair lay koors? - Who is going to do the grocery shopping?)

 

2. Que (kuh) / Quoi (kwa): What are you curious about?

 

Que means "what" and is used in the object position.

• Examples:
  • "Que voulez-vous?" (kuh voo-lay voo? - What do you want?)
  • "Que faites-vous ce week-end?" (kuh fet voo suh weekend? - What are you doing this weekend?)
  • "Que pensez-vous de ce film?" (kuh pahn-say voo duh suh film? - What do you think of this movie?)

Quoi also means "what" like Que, but is mainly used after prepositions or as an interjection.

• Examples:
  • "À quoi pensez-vous?" (ah kwa pahn-say voo? - What are you thinking about?)
  • "Quoi?!" (kwa?! - What?!)
  • "Il a dit quoi sur moi?" (eel ah dee kwa sur mwa? - What did he say about me?)

To emphasize the subject, use "Qu'est-ce qui" (kess kee - what), and to emphasize the object, use "Qu'est-ce qu'" (kess kuh - what).

• Examples:
  • "Qu'est-ce qui se passe?" (kess kee suh pahss? - What's happening?)
  • "Qu'est-ce qu' vous faites?" (kess kuh voo fet? - What are you doing?)
  • "Qu'est-ce qu' vous intéresse?" (kess kuh voo an-tay-ress? - What are you interested in?)

 

3. Où (oo): Where do you want to go?

 

Où means "where" and is used to ask questions about places.

• Examples:
  • "Où allez-vous?" (oo al-lay voo? - Where are you going?)
  • "Où est la bibliothèque?" (oo ay lah bib-lee-oh-tek? - Where is the library?)
  • "Où avez-vous acheté cette robe?" (oo ah-vay voo ash-tay set robe? - Where did you buy this dress?)

 

4. Quand (kahn): When can we meet?

 

Quand means "when" and is used to ask questions about time.

• Examples:
  • "Quand est-ce que vous partez?" (kahn eh-suh kuh voo par-tay? - When are you leaving?)
  • "Quand est ton anniversaire?" (kahn ay tohn an-nee-vehr-sair? - When is your birthday?)
  • "Quand pouvons-nous nous voir?" (kahn poo-vohn noo noo vwah? - When can we see each other?)

 

5. Pourquoi (poor-kwa): Why are you curious?

 

Pourquoi means "why" and is used to ask questions about reasons.

• Examples:
  • "Pourquoi pleurez-vous?" (poor-kwa plur-ay voo? - Why are you crying?)
  • "Pourquoi as-tu fait ça?" (poor-kwa ah too fay sah? - Why did you do that?)
  • "Pourquoi est-ce que le ciel est bleu?" (poor-kwa eh-suh kuh luh ciel ay bluh? - Why is the sky blue?)

 

6. Comment (koh-mah(n)): How are you doing?

 

Comment means "how" and is used to ask about methods or states.

• Examples:
  • "Comment ça va?" (koh-mah(n) sah vah? - How are you?)
  • "Comment tu t'appelles?" (koh-mah(n) too tah-pel? - What's your name?)
  • "Comment faire pour apprendre le français?" (koh-mah(n) fair poor ah-prahn-druh luh frahn-say? - How can I learn French?)

 

7. Combien (kohm-bya(n)): How much do you need?

 

Combien means "how much" or "how many" and is used to ask questions about quantity or price.

• Examples:
  • "Combien ça coûte?" (kohm-bya(n) sah koot? - How much is this?)
  • "Combien de frères et sœurs as-tu?" (kohm-bya(n) duh frair ay suhr ah too? - How many brothers and sisters do you have?)
  • "Combien de temps faut-il pour aller à Paris?" (kohm-bya(n) duh tahn foh-teel poor al-lay ah pa-ree? - How long does it take to get to Paris?)

 

By mastering French question words, you can freely ask questions and have richer conversations. Upgrade your French skills based on what you learned today! Bonne chance! (bon shahns - Good luck!)