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How to Say ‘What's up?’ in French

Qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?

k eh suh kee eel ee ah

[k eh suh kee eel ee ah]

💬 Usage Tip: Qu'est-ce que is a standard way to start a question about "what". The qu' joins the next word and never stands alone.

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce

k eh suh

What is it

The start of many questions. Pronounced like 'kess'.

Example

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

What is it?

Words in this phrase

Qu'

[k]

what

Contracted form starting the question qu’est-ce que..., used to ask 'what'.

Example

Qu' est-ce qui attire le regard en premier ?

What attracts the eye first?

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

-ce

[suh]

question marker

Part of est-ce que, a common way to form a yes/no question in French.

Example

Est-ce que cela vous a aidé ?

Did that help you?

qu'il y a ?

kee eel ee ah

that there is?

'Il y a' means 'there is'. The whole phrase sounds like 'kil-ya'. Altogether: 'What's up?' or 'What's the matter?'

Example

Il y a un problème.

There is a problem.

Words in this phrase

qu'

[kee]

that

Conjunction introducing subordinate clauses.

Example

Je pense qu'il est tard.

I think that it's late.

[eel]

Used as a subject pronoun for things or concepts.

Example

Il fait beau aujourd'hui.

It is nice today.

[ee]

there

In or at that place.

Example

Y a-t-il une solution?

Is there a solution?

[ah]

has

Used with a past participle to form the present perfect tense.

Example

Elle a visité Paris.

She has visited Paris.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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