Quel est vs Qu’est-ce que
Both Quel est and Qu’est-ce que translate as “What is…” in English, but they are used differently depending on the type of question. Understanding the structure is essential to sounding natural.
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1. Quel est – Used with être + noun (a category, title, or classification)
Use Quel / Quelle / Quels / Quelles with être to ask about a specific noun or category. The pattern is:
Quel + être + noun ?
Examples:
- Quel est ton nom?
- What is your name?
- Quelle est ta couleur préférée?
- What is your favorite color?
- Quels sont tes livres préférés?
- What are your favorite books?
- Quelles sont les capitales européennes?
- What are the capitals of Europe?
Key points:
- Always pair quel with être.
- The gender and number of quel must match the noun: Quel est le problème? – Quelle est la question? – Quelles sont les capitales européennes?
Think about it like this: “Which [noun] is it?” You’re asking for the identity of a thing.
2. Qu’est-ce que – Used for definitions, explanations, or actions
Use Qu’est-ce que when asking for a definition, explanation, or when the sentence involves a verb.
Structure:
Qu’est-ce que + subject + verb ?
Examples:
- Qu’est-ce que c’est?
- What is this? / What is it?
- Qu’est-ce que tu fais?
- What are you doing?
- Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire?
- What is the meaning of this?
Think about it like this: “What is it that [subject + verb]…?” It’s for actions, explanations, or definitions, not naming a noun.
3. Informal spoken French
- C’est quoi…? is often used instead of Qu’est-ce que c’est? in everyday speech.
- C’est quoi, ça?
- What is that?
- Avoid trying to use Quel est with other verbs. It only works with être + noun.
4. Reference table
| English | French | Notes |
| What is your name? | Quel est ton nom? | être + noun = quel est |
| What is this? | Qu’est-ce que c’est? | Definition / explanation |
| What do you do? | Qu’est-ce que tu fais? | Asking about an action |
| What is the capital of France? | Quelle est la capitale de la France? | être + noun = quelle est |
5. Easy way to remember
- Quel est always with être + noun = identity or category
- Qu’est-ce que is for actions, explanations, or definitions = “What is it that … ?”
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