c'est toi ?
The English phrase "is that you?" is translated into French as c'est toi ?
A question used to ask if the person you are seeing or hearing is the person you think it is.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase c'est toi ? is composed of ce (it), est (is) and toi (you/the person being addressed), literally meaning "it is you?"
Which one should you use?
Use c'est vous ? instead of c'est toi ? when addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people. C'est bien toi? is an informal way to say 'Is that you?'
When do people say it?
If someone asks you Est-ce bien vous?, a common way to respond is Oui, c'est bien moi, which means "Yes, it's me".
Did you know?
- While c'est toi ? is the standard way to ask 'is that you?', French speakers often avoid the formal inversion est-ce toi ? in casual speech, preferring to simply raise the pitch of their voice at the end of the sentence.
- Adding the word bien to C'est bien toi ? does not mean 'well'. In this context, it acts as a reinforcement to express a sense of confirmation or surprise, similar to saying 'Is it actually you?' in English.
- The pronoun toi has its roots in the Latin ‘tē’, which was used for a single person. This shows how the modern French word for 'you' has maintained its ancient connection to the singular 'you' through centuries of linguistic evolution.
Examples in context
- Vous êtes bien Monsieur Dupont? Est-ce bien vous?Are you Mr. Dupont? Is that you?
- Salut! C'est bien toi qui m'appelles?Hey! Is that you calling me?
Example conversation
Nathan arrives at Léa's apartment at night.
- NathanC'est toi ?Is that you?
- LéaOui, c'est moi, Léa.Yes, it's me, Léa.
- NathanTu m'as fait peur !You scared me!
- LéaDésolée, Nathan.Sorry, Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries c'est, toi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
