qui
/ki/
The French phrase qui means who, whom, that or which.
Which one should you use?
Use qui when the relative pronoun is the subject of the verb, but use que when the relative pronoun is the direct object.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a relative clause, qui functions as the subject of the following verb. In formal contexts, qui can be replaced by lequel when referring to a specific person or people.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of qui is /ki/.
Did you know?
- While qui usually means 'who', in the phrase qui sait it translates to 'who knows' but functions as an idiomatic way to say 'maybe'.
- In French, the word qui is used to mean 'who' even when referring to animals or objects, making it more flexible than the English 'who'.
- In some linguistic theories, the short, sharp sound of qui is considered potentially onomatopoeic, mirroring its quick, stabbing phonetic profile.
Examples in context
- Qui est-ce?Who is it?
- La personne qui a téléphoné est ma sœur.The person who called is my sister.
- L'employé qui est en charge du projet.The employee who is in charge of the project.
- Qui a téléphoné?Who called?
- Mes amis, qui viennent de Paris, sont en vacances ici.My friends, who are from Paris, are on vacation here.
- J'ai rencontré un voisin, celui qui habite à côté.I met a neighbor, the one who lives next door.
- J'ai une amie, celle qui parle couramment le français.I have a friend, the one who speaks French fluently.
- Qui est-ce qui a volé mon crayon?Who stole my pencil?
- C'est l'homme qui habite ici.It is the man who lives here.
- Je ne sais pas qui a appelé.I don't know who called.
- Dis-moi qui tu as vu.Tell me who you saw.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a new neighbor.
- ChloéTu sais qui est le nouveau voisin ?Do you know who the new neighbor is?
- GabrielNon, je ne sais pas qui c'est.No, I don't know who he is.
- ChloéC'est l'homme qui travaille à la banque.It is the man who works at the bank.
- GabrielAh, d'accord, je vois qui c'est.Ah, okay, I see who it is.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry qui, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries qui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
