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How to Say ‘What's wrong?’ in French

Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?

k eh suh kee nuh vah pah

[k eh suh kee nuh vah pah]

💬 Usage Tip: Ça va means "it's going fine", so ne va pas is "isn't going right". You can describe the problem with the same verb: Elle ne va pas bien "She isn't well".

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce qui

k eh suh kee

What (is it that)

Question opener for the subject of the sentence. Say it as one word: 'kess-kee'.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

What is happening?

Words in this phrase

Qu'

[k]

what

Contracted form used in questions starting with what.

Example

Qu'est-ce qu'il comprend ? Qu' introduces the question.

What does it include? Qu' introduces the question.

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?

qui

[kee]

that

Used to introduce a defining or restrictive clause.

Example

C'est une étoile qui brille.

It's a star that shines.

ne va pas ?

nuh vah pah

is wrong / isn't going well

'Aller' is used for health or wellbeing. 'Ne… pas' makes it negative: 'nuh va pa'.

Example

Ça ne va pas aujourd'hui.

Things aren't going well today.

Words in this phrase

[nuh]

not

Used to make a negative.

Example

Je ne sais pas.

I do not know.

[vah]

goes

Indicates the state or condition something is in.

Example

Comment va ta journée ?

How is your day going?

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

Guides for French learners

The Most Common French Verbs: the 20 You'll Actually UseThe 20 most common French verbs, with the present-tense forms you need, real example sentences with native audio, and two shortcuts for past and future.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.

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