Which one should you use?
While Qu'est-ce que tu as dit ? is a direct way to ask the question, in polite social situations, it is more natural and less blunt to use Comment ? to ask someone to repeat themselves.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form Qu'est-ce que tu as dit ? is informal because it uses tu, making it appropriate for friends, family or peers. If you are speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people, use the formal Qu'est-ce que vous avez dit ? For a polite and formal way to ask someone to repeat, you can use Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît? or use Excusez-moi, je n'ai pas bien compris. to politely request clarification. In relaxed and friendly settings, you can say Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît? or use the informal expression Attends, je n'ai pas bien entendu. to indicate that you need the speaker to pause and repeat.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the passé composé tense, which is the standard way to express a completed action in the past.
Did you know?
- While Comment ? is the polite way to ask 'what did you say?', it literally translates to 'How?', treating the lack of hearing as a problem of manner rather than a lack of information.
- In a highly informal setting, a French speaker might use the slang word Hein ? instead of the full phrase to ask for a repetition.
- In very casual spoken French, the qu'est-ce que part of Qu'est-ce que tu as dit ? is often dropped entirely, leaving only Tu as dit quoi ?
Examples in context
- Qu'est-ce que tu as dit ?What did you say?
- Pardon, qu'est-ce que tu as dit ?Sorry, what did you say?
- Je n'ai pas entendu, qu'est-ce que tu as dit ?I didn't hear, what did you say?
