qui est-ce
qui est-ce is the French phrase for "who is it".
qui est-ce is a question used to ask for the identity of a person. It is typically used when the identity of a person is unknown, such as when someone knocks on a door or when looking at a photograph.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of qui (who), est (is) and ce (it/this).
Which one should you use?
While qui est-ce is a standard way to ask the question, C'est qui ? is a more common, informal way to ask "who is it?" in spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
When qui est-ce is used as the subject of a sentence, it is followed by qui to introduce the verb, forming the structure qui est-ce qui (who is it that).
Did you know?
- While qui est-ce sounds very proper, using it at a loud party might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
- In many French-speaking regions, if someone knocks, you might respond with Qui est là ? (Who is there?) rather than qui est-ce.
- The word ce in the phrase is a demonstrative pronoun, meaning it acts like a finger pointing at an invisible person.
Examples in context
- Qui est cette personne que vous attendez ?Who is this person you are waiting for?
- C'est qui, cette personne ?Who is this person?
- C'est qui, là-bas?Who is that over there?
- Qui c'est, ce nouveau voisin ?Who is this new neighbor?
- Qui est-ce ?Who is it?
- Qui est-ce qui frappe à la porte ?Who is it that is knocking at the door?
- Dis-moi, qui est-ce ?Tell me, who is it?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Chloé are looking at an old photograph.
- GabrielQui est-ce sur cette photo ?Who is it in this photo?
- ChloéC'est mon grand-père quand il était jeune.It is my grandfather when he was young.
- GabrielIl a l'air très élégant.He looks very elegant.
- ChloéOui, il était toujours très chic.Yes, he was always very chic.
