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

Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?

k eh suh kuh voo ruh-ko-mahn-DAY

[k eh suh kuh voo ruh-ko-mahn-DAY]

🇫🇷 In France: Waiters generally like being asked and will often point you to the house speciality.

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce que

k eh suh kuh

What

Say it fast as one chunk: 'kess-kuh'. It's the most common way to start a 'what' question.

Example

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

What is it?

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?

que

[kuh]

that

Introduces the clause that follows after expressing a thought or opinion.

Example

Dans Je pense que, que relie l'opinion à l'idée suivante.

In "Je pense que," "que" links the opinion to the next idea.

vous recommandez ?

voo ruh-ko-mahn-DAY

do you recommend?

Say 'voo ruh-ko-mahn-day'. 'Man' is nasal, and '-ez' sounds like 'ay'. Your voice rises at the end.

Example

Quel vin vous recommandez ?

Which wine do you recommend?

Words in this phrase

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

recommandez

[ruh-ko-mahn-DAY]

recommend

Polite 'vous' form of the verb 'recommander', to recommend.

Example

Quel vin recommandez-vous ?

Which wine do you recommend?

Related guides

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.How to Learn to Speak French, Not Just Read ItWhy reading French doesn't make you speak it, and a practical way to learn to speak French: real conversations, speaking out loud from day one, and practice with people.

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