Qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui ?
In French, "what did you do today?" is expressed as Qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui ?
This phrase is used to ask someone about the activities they performed during the current day.
What does it mean word for word?
The introductory part Qu'est-ce que literally translates to "What is it that" and is a standard way to introduce a question starting with "what".
Which one should you use?
The phrase uses the passé composé, combining the auxiliary verb avoir with the past participle fait, to express a completed action in the past.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the tu form in Qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui? when addressing friends, family or peers. Use the vous form in Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait aujourd'hui? when addressing a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
Did you know?
- The word fait comes from the verb faire, which is one of the most versatile words in French and can mean 'to do', 'to make' or 'to weather' depending on the context.
- While Qu'est-ce que is standard, in casual spoken French you will often hear Tu as fait quoi aujourd'hui ? This moves the 'what' to the end and is common in relaxed conversations.
- The word tu is a cognate of the German 'du' and the Russian 'ты'. All three derive from the same Proto-Indo-European root for the second person singular.
Examples in context
- Dis-moi, qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui ?Tell me, what did you do today?
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel meet in the evening after work.
- ManonSalut Gabriel ! Qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui ?Hi Gabriel! What did you do today?
- GabrielJ'ai travaillé toute la journée, et toi ?I worked all day, and you?
- ManonJe suis allée au cinéma avec une amie.I went to the cinema with a friend.
- GabrielC'est super, le film était bien ?That's great, was the movie good?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries as, que, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
