quoi de neuf
/kwa d(ə) nœf/
The English phrase "wassup" can be translated into French as quoi de neuf.
quoi de neuf is an informal greeting used to ask someone what is happening or if there is any new news. It can be used as a standalone question to ask for updates in someone's life, translating to "What's new?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "what of new".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
quoi de neuf is an informal greeting that is suitable for use with friends and peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, it is common to use Salut as an informal greeting.
When do people say it?
When someone asks quoi de neuf?, a common response is pas grand-chose, which means "not much". Another informal greeting you might encounter is Ça roule?, which translates to "How's it going?"
Did you know?
- The word neuf in quoi de neuf is a homonym that can also mean the number 'nine' in French.
- The word quoi is a direct descendant of the Latin word quid, which is the origin of many English words used in legal or formal terms like 'quid pro quo'.
- The word neuf comes from the Latin novus, which is also the root of the English word 'novel'.
Examples in context
- Salut toi, ça roule?Hey you, how's it going?
- Salut, quoi de neuf depuis la dernière fois?Hey, what's new since the last time we met?
- Alors, quoi de neuf ?So, what's up?
- Salut ! Quoi de neuf depuis hier ?Hi! What's new since yesterday?
- Pas grand-chose, et toi, quoi de neuf ?Not much, and you, what's up?
Example conversation
Two friends meet at a cafe.
- ChloéSalut Gabriel, quoi de neuf ?Hi Gabriel, what's up?
- GabrielPas grand-chose de nouveau, Chloé.Nothing much new, Chloé.
- ChloéTu as terminé ton projet ?Did you finish your project?
- GabrielOui, enfin !Yes, finally!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quoi de neuf, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, neuf, quoi, quoi de neuf, CC BY-SA 4.0.
