comment on dit
The English phrase "how do I say" is translated into French as comment on dit.
This phrase is used to ask for the translation of a word or expression. To ask for a specific translation, you typically follow the phrase with the word you are curious about and the preposition en followed by the target language, such as comment on dit [word] en français ?
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase comment on dit literally translates to "how one says".
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, it is standard to use the impersonal pronoun on (one/we) rather than je (I) when asking for a translation. In formal or written contexts, the subject and verb are inverted to form comment dit-on.
Did you know?
- If a French speaker is struggling for a word and says comment on dit… mid-sentence, they are using it as a filler phrase. This is the equivalent of saying 'um' or 'how do you say' in English.
- The pronoun on is derived from the Latin word homō, meaning 'human being'. This is the same root that gave French the word homme for 'man'.
- While comment on dit is common, the inverted comment dit-on is so formal that it is rarely heard in spoken conversation and is mostly reserved for textbooks and formal writing.
Examples in context
- Comment dit-on 'hello' en français?How do you say 'hello' in French?
- Pouvez-vous m'indiquer comment dire 'thank you'?Can you tell me how to say 'thank you'?
- Tu sais comment on dit 'goodbye'?Do you know how to say 'goodbye'?
- Comment on dit ça en français ?How do I say that in French?
- Comment on dit "apple" en français ?How do I say "apple" in French?
- Comment on dit ce mot ?How do I say this word?
Example conversation
Léa is asking Lucas for help with her vocabulary.
- LéaLucas, comment on dit "sandwich" en français ?Lucas, how do I say "sandwich" in French?
- LucasOn dit la même chose, un sandwich.We say the same thing, a sandwich.
- LéaD'accord, et comment on dit "bread" ?Okay, and how do I say "bread"?
- LucasOn dit "pain".We say "pain".
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, dit, on, CC BY-SA 4.0.
