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what

/wɒt/

/wɑːt/

whatpronoun

/wɒt/

/wɑːt/

(interrogative – used alone / relative – introduces a clause)

Translations

qu'est-ce que

What do you want?

Qu'est-ce que tu veux ?

ce que

I don't know what to do.

Je ne sais pas ce que je dois faire.

qu'est-ce qui

What happened?

Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

Additional translations

ce qui

quoi

Definitions

Used alone to ask about an unspecified thing, action, or situation.

What is your name?

Used after a verb to introduce a noun clause, often with an infinitive, to show an action or thing that needs to be done.

I don't know what to do.

Used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a full nominal clause that represents the whole statement or thing being discussed.

What he needs is a long holiday.

Synonyms

that which

the thing that

whatdeterminer

/wɒt/

/wɑːt/

(interrogative – used before a noun in both interrogative and exclamative constructions)

Translations

quelS'accorde en genre et en nombre : quel, quelle, quels, quelles.

What movie are we going to watch tonight?

Quel film allons-nous regarder ce soir ?

Definitions

Used before a noun to request specific information about it.

What movie are we going to watch tonight?

Used before a noun in exclamations to emphasize degree, amount, or quality (Exclamatory Determiner).

You can't come to the party? What a shame!

Synonyms

which

what kind of

what sort of

which type of

whatinterjection

/wɒt/

/wɑːt/

(exclamatory)

Translations

pardonUsuel pour demander de répéter ou de clarifier.

What? I didn't hear you clearly.

Pardon ? Je n'ai pas bien entendu.

quoiSurtout à l'oral pour marquer la surprise ou l'indignation.

What! I can't believe you did that!

Quoi ! Je n'arrive pas à croire que tu aies fait ça !

Additional translations

heinFamilière, pour demander de répéter ou de clarifier.

Definitions

Used to express surprise or disbelief.

What! I can't believe you did that!

Used to ask for repetition or clarification.

What? I didn't hear you clearly.

Used to express strong emotion such as anger or frustration.

What! How could you say that to me?

Synonyms

such a

say what

what the