What does it mean word for word?
The phrase starts with qu'est-ce que, which literally translates to "what is it that". This is a standard way to form a question beginning with "what".
Which one should you use?
While qu'est-ce que tu regardes ? is a standard way to ask the question, you can use Tu regardes quoi ? for a more colloquial approach. For a very informal or slang tone, you can use Qu'est-ce que tu mates en ce moment ?, which utilizes the slang verb mater to mean watching.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you need to be formal or are addressing more than one person, use qu'est-ce que vous regardez ? or Que regardez-vous en ce moment ? To be even more polite, you can ask Puis-je savoir ce que vous regardez ?, which means "May I know what you are watching?"
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase qu'est-ce que tu regardes ?, the word regardes is the second-person singular present indicative form of the verb regarder, which means to watch or look at. Use qu'est-ce que vous regardez ? when you are addressing more than one person or when using the formal vous to show respect.
Did you know?
- In France, the word regarder can also be used to mean 'to concern' or 'to be someone's business'. A common phrase ce n'est pas tes affaires, ça ne te regarde pas uses the verb to say something is none of your business.
- The slang verb mater used in the informal version of this phrase originally meant 'to keep an eye on' or 'to watch closely'. In modern French slang, it has shifted to mean 'to watch' or 'to ogle'.
- The pronoun tu is a cognate with the German 'du' and the Russian 'ты'. All three languages inherited this specific word for the singular 'you' from a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor.
Examples in context
- Qu'est-ce que tu regardes comme séries TV en ce moment ?What TV series are you watching right now?
- Qu'est-ce que tu regardes en ce moment ? J'ai besoin de nouvelles recommandations !What are you watching right now? I need some new recommendations!
Example conversation
Hugo walks into the living room where Chloé is on the sofa.
- HugoSalut Chloé, qu'est-ce que tu regardes ?Hi Chloé, what are you watching?
- ChloéJe regarde un documentaire sur les chats.I am watching a documentary about cats.
- HugoÇa a l'air très intéressant !That looks very interesting!
- ChloéOui, viens t'asseoir avec moi.Yes, come sit with me.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
