que diable
/kə djabl/
The French phrase for "what the heck" is que diable.
que diable is a softer form of "what the hell".
Meaning: softer form of "what the hell" (phrase)
Did you know?
- In French, diable is also used in the term diable de cuisine or simply diable to describe a hand truck or dolly used for moving heavy loads.
- Using que diable in modern conversation often makes a speaker sound like a character from a 19th-century novel due to its theatrical tone.
- The word diable shares its roots with the Greek word 'diabolos', which originally referred to a 'slanderer' or 'accuser' before becoming a name for the Devil.
Examples in context
- Que diable se passe-t-il ici?What the heck is happening here?
- Qu'est-ce que c'est que ce bordel ?What the heck is this mess?
Example conversation
Gabriel finds Emma's art project in the living room.
- GabrielQue diable est-ce que c'est, Emma ?What the heck is this, Emma?
- EmmaC'est une sculpture moderne, Gabriel.It is a modern sculpture, Gabriel.
- GabrielOn dirait un tas de cartons.It looks like a pile of cardboard.
- EmmaC'est justement l'idée !That is exactly the point!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry que diable, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries diable, que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
