quel est le
In French, the phrase "what is the" is expressed as quel est le.
This phrase is used to ask for the identity or definition of a specific thing.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, quel est le translates to "which is the" in English.
Which one should you use?
Use quel est le when you are identifying a specific noun, such as "what is the name". In contrast, use qu'est-ce que c'est when asking the general question "what is it?"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form must change to match the gender and number of the noun being identified. Use quelle est la if the noun is feminine, quels sont les if you are asking about multiple masculine nouns and quelles sont les if you are asking about multiple feminine nouns.
Did you know?
- Aside from the name Jésus-Christ, the word est is the only word in modern French that keeps a silent internal 's' in its spelling.
Examples in context
- Quel est le numéro ?What is the number?This example shows how to ask for a specific number using quel est le.Tatoeba #584906 by sacredceltic, translation #619644 by ulyssemc1
- Quel est le problème ?What is the problem?This example shows how to ask about a problem using quel est le.Tatoeba #1137225 by sacredceltic, translation #416891 by blay_paul
- Quel est le but de la vie ?What is the purpose of life?This example shows how to ask about the purpose of life using quel est le.Tatoeba #2025674 by sacredceltic, translation #2025422 by Spamster
- Qu'est-ce que c'est que le cinéma ?What is cinema?
- C'est quoi le problème ?What's the problem?
- Excusez-moi, qu'est-ce que c'est que le musée du Louvre ?Excuse me, what is the Louvre Museum?
- Dis-moi, c'est quoi le problème ?Tell me, what's the problem?
- 73 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are looking at a menu in a French restaurant.
- NathanQuel est le plat du jour ?What is the dish of the day?
- ManonC'est le poulet rôti.It is the roast chicken.
- NathanQuel est le prix ?What is the price?
- ManonIl est très abordable.It is very affordable.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries est, le, quel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
