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How to Say ‘What do you want?’ in French

Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?

k eh suh kuh too vuh

[k eh suh kuh too vuh]

💬 Usage Tip: Qu'est-ce que is a fixed opener meaning "what", and you can put any statement after it. Try Qu'est-ce que tu regardes ? "What are you watching?"

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce que

k eh suh kuh

What

A common way to start a 'what' question. Say it fast: 'kess-kuh'.

Example

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

What is it?

Words in this phrase

Qu'

[k]

What

Used to ask for information about something.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

What is happening?

est

[eh]

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

-ce

[suh]

question marker

In est-ce que, this element helps form a standard yes/no question in French.

Example

Est-ce qu'il y a un parking gratuit ?

Is there free parking?

que

[kuh]

that / what

Links ce to the rest of the clause; together ce que often means what.

Example

Montre Ce que tu ne comprends pas sur la feuille.

Show what you do not understand on the worksheet.

tu veux ?

too vuh

do you want?

Informal 'you want', from 'vouloir'. 'Veux' rhymes with 'deux'.

Example

Tu veux un café ?

Do you want a coffee?

Words in this phrase

[too]

you (informal singular)

Informal subject pronoun “you”. Used with friends; common when discussing tastes in anime.

Example

Tu aimes les shōnen ?

Do you like shōnen?

veux

[vuh]

want

To have a desire to possess or do something.

Example

Je veux un bon de réduction, s'il vous plaît.

I want a coupon, please.

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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