What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "what is it that it wants to say?"
Which one should you use?
While qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? is the standard way to ask for a definition, que signifie… ? is a more formal alternative.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal situations, you can use Que signifie cela? which is a straightforward and polite way to ask for the meaning of something or Pourriez-vous m'expliquer la signification? to make a polite request for an explanation. In informal or casual settings, Qu'est-ce que ça signifie? is appropriate, while Ça veut dire quoi? is a common and informal way to ask. In casual spoken French, people often move the question word to the end, saying ça veut dire quoi? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb vouloir (to want) is used here in the third-person singular to express the meaning of a word or sign.
Did you know?
- In French, when you ask what something means, you are linguistically asking what that thing 'wants' to say.
- The verb dire (to say) comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to show' or 'point out'.
- While ça veut dire quoi? is common in speech, placing the question word at the end is technically a grammatical deviation from standard written French.
Examples in context
- Que signifie "révolution"?What does "révolution" mean?
- Pourriez-vous m'expliquer la signification de cette expression, s'il vous plaît?Could you please explain the meaning of this expression?
- Ça veut dire quoi, "amitié"?What does "amitié" mean?
- Qu'est-ce que ça signifie, "cool"?What does "cool" mean?
- Je ne comprends pas, qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?I don't understand, what does it mean?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are studying French together.
- GabrielRegarde ce mot, qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?Look at this word, what does it mean?
- EmmaJe pense que ça veut dire bonjour.I think it means hello.
- GabrielAh, je vois, merci Emma !Ah, I see, thanks Emma!
- EmmaDe rien, Gabriel.You're welcome, Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dire, que, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
