comment tu sais
The English phrase "how do you know" is translated into French as comment tu sais.
This phrase is a question used to ask someone for the source of their information.
What does it mean word for word?
comment literally means "how", and sais is the conjugated form of the verb savoir (to know a fact) for the second person singular tu.
Which one should you use?
comment tu sais is the standard way to ask the question among friends, family or peers, whereas comment tu le sais? is a more specific way to ask how someone knows something.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people, you should use the formal/plural form comment savez-vous rather than comment tu sais.
Did you know?
- To ask how you know a person, you must replace the verb savoir entirely and say comment tu connais. Using the phrase comment tu sais in this context would sound like you are asking for the factual source of that person's existence.
- If you use tu in comment tu sais instead of the formal vous, you are performing tutoyement. In some French social circles, this transition is a major milestone that requires an explicit agreement between both people.
- The word tu is a direct descendant of the Latin word tū and is a cognate with the German du and Russian ты.
Examples in context
- Comment tu sais ça ?How do you know this?This sentence is useful for asking how someone knows a specific thing with the form comment tu sais.Tatoeba #1437019 by martin9, translation #1641807 by Amastan
- Comment tu sais toutes ces choses ?How do you know all these things?This sentence is useful for asking how someone knows all these things with the form comment tu sais.Tatoeba #7094166 by pititnatole, translation #2891335 by CK
- Comment tu sais que tu ne me confonds pas avec quelqu'un d'autre ?How do you know that you aren't mistaking me for someone else?This sentence is useful for asking how someone knows they are not mistaking you for someone else with the form comment tu sais.Tatoeba #13938492 by Pony, translation #7240153 by CK
- Je pense que j'ai trouvé une solution. Comment tu le sais?I think I found a solution. How do you know?
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about a secret party.
- LucasIl y a une fête samedi soir !There is a party Saturday night!
- EmmaAh bon ? Mais comment tu sais ?Really? But how do you know?
- LucasL'organisateur me l'a dit hier.The organizer told me yesterday.
- EmmaC'est super, je veux venir !That's great, I want to come!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
