qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
The English phrase "what do you recommend?" is translated into French as qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?
This phrase is used to ask someone for their suggestion or advice regarding the best choice to make. You can also use the synonym Qu'est-ce que vous conseillez ? depending on whether you are specifically asking for a suggestion or professional advice.
Which one should you use?
While qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? is common in spoken French, the inverted form Que recommandez-vous ? is more formal and used in written or very polite contexts. For a slightly different request, you can also say Pouvez-vous me donner des recommandations? which means "Can you give me some recommendations?"
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are speaking to a friend or someone you know well, use the informal tu form instead of vous, such as in qu'est-ce que tu recommandes ?
Did you know?
- The word vous is a distant relative of the Russian word вы (vy), as both evolved from an ancient common ancestor.
- In French culture, asking qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ? to a waiter often prompts a suggestion based on the 'plat du jour' rather than the entire menu.
Examples in context
- Vous connaissez de bons restaurants ici? Que recommandez-vous?Do you know any good restaurants here? What do you recommend?
- Salut Jean! Je suis nouveau ici. Qu'est-ce que tu me recommandes pour une bonne pizza?Hi Jean! I'm new here. What do you recommend for a good pizza?
- Laura, tu as des suggestions pour une belle promenade en soirée?Laura, do you have any suggestions for a nice evening walk?
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are at a restaurant looking at the menu.
- NathanLe menu est très long. Qu'est-ce que vous recommandez ?The menu is very long. What do you recommend?
- ChloéJe vous conseille le plat du jour, c'est délicieux.I recommend the daily special, it's delicious.
- NathanC'est noté, je vais prendre ça.Got it, I'll take that.
- ChloéC'est un excellent choix, Nathan !That's an excellent choice, Nathan!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
