qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
The English phrase "what does this mean?" is translated into French as qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
In French, the verb vouloir (to want) is used to express the concept of meaning or signifying.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? translates to "what is it that that wants to say?"
Which one should you use?
You can use qu'est-ce que cela veut dire ? for a more formal tone by replacing the pronoun ça with cela. In very casual speech, you might also hear ça veut dire quoi ?, which moves the question word to the end.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal or written contexts, use qu'est-ce que cela veut dire ? or Que signifie cela ? If you want to be particularly polite and request an explanation, you can use Pourriez-vous m'expliquer la signification de ceci ? In highly casual settings, C'est quoi le sens de ça ? or ça veut dire quoi ? are also used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb vouloir (to want) is used here in the sense of "to mean" or "to signify".
Did you know?
- The verb dire in this phrase comes from an ancient root meaning 'to show' or 'to point out' rather than just 'to speak'.
- Asking que signifie cela ? is so formal that it is rarely heard in spoken conversation and is reserved almost exclusively for literature or law.
- When French speakers ask ça veut dire quoi ?, they are using a structure called 'dislocation' by placing the question word at the end.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, pourriez-vous m'expliquer la signification de ce symbole ?Excuse me, could you please explain the meaning of this symbol?
- Hé, c'est quoi le sens de cette expression ?Hey, what's the meaning of this expression?
- Je ne comprends pas, qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?I don't understand, what does this mean?
Example conversation
Nathan is reading a French book with Chloe.
- NathanRegarde ce mot, qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?Look at this word, what does this mean?
- ChloéÇa veut dire que c'est fini.It means that it is finished.
- NathanAh, je comprends maintenant, merci Chloé.Ah, I understand now, thank you Chloé.
- ChloéDe rien, Nathan !You're welcome, Nathan!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dire, que, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
