c'est tout ?
The English phrase "is that all?" is translated into French as c'est tout ?
This phrase is a question used to ask if there is nothing more to add or provide.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase c'est tout is composed of c'est (it is) and tout (all/everything).
Which one should you use?
While c'est tout ? is a direct way to ask if something is finished, it can sometimes sound abrupt or impatient depending on the tone of voice.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form Ce sera tout ? is a more polite and formal way to ask "Will that be all?", and it is often used by service staff in restaurants or shops.
How does it change in a sentence?
The negative form ce n'est pas tout can be used to mean "that's not all" or "there is more".
Did you know?
- If you are shopping and the clerk asks Ce sera tout ?, they are using the future tense rather than the present to sound more polite. Using the future tense creates a gentle distance that makes the question feel like an offer rather than a demand.
- In French, the word tout is an exact linguistic cousin to the English word 'total', both tracing back to the same Latin root tōtus.
- French speakers may use c'est tout as a conversational 'full stop' to shut down a discussion, effectively meaning 'I am done talking about this'.
Examples in context
- Oui, c'est tout, merci.Yes, that's all, thank you.
- C'est tout?Is that all?
- Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. C'est tout ?I would like a coffee, please. Is that all?
- Tu as fini, c'est tout ?You're finished, is that all?
Example conversation
Nathan is paying for a small snack at a cafe.
- NathanUn croissant, s'il vous plaît.A croissant, please.
- ManonC'est tout ?Is that all?
- NathanOui, c'est tout.Yes, that is all.
- ManonTrès bien, ça fera deux euros.Very well, that will be two euros.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'est, tout, CC BY-SA 4.0.
