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How to Say ‘What happened?’ in French

Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

k eh suh kee s eh pa-SAY

[k eh suh kee s eh pa-SAY]

💬 Usage Tip: In speech Qu'est-ce qui blurs into roughly (kess-kee). The whole question comes out fast, like (kess-kee-say-pah-say).

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce qui

k eh suh kee

What (as subject)

Question form used when 'what' is the subject. It sounds like 'kès-ki'.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?

What's wrong?

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]

is

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.

s'est passé ?

s eh pa-SAY

happened

Passé composé of 'se passer' (to happen). It sounds like 'sè-pa-sé'.

Example

Tout s'est passé vite.

Everything happened quickly.

Words in this phrase

s'

[s]

oneself

Reflexive pronoun used for oneself in actions.

Example

Il s'acharne à finir ce projet.

He is determined to finish this project.

est

[eh]

is / has

Auxiliary 'être' used to form the past tense of a reflexive verb.

Example

Avec "est", l'action de se lever est racontée au passé.

With "est," the action of standing up is told in the past.

passé

[pa-SAY]

happened

Past participle of 'passer'; with 'se', it means to happen.

Example

Tout s'est bien passé.

Everything went well.

Related guides

French Conversation for Beginners: 6 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseSix basic French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour and introducing yourself to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.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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