Qui est-elle ?
Qui est-elle ? is the French way to say "who is she?"
This phrase is used to ask for the identity of a female person.
Which one should you use?
If you want to ask "who is he?" instead of "who is she?", change the subject pronoun from elle to il to form Qui est-il ?
How does it change in a sentence?
The form Qui est-elle ? uses inversion, which means the verb and the subject are switched. Inversion is a formal way to ask a question in French.
Did you know?
- The pronoun elle is used not only for women but also for any noun that is grammatically feminine, such as a city or a table.
- While Qui est-elle ? is grammatically perfect, in a casual setting a French person is much more likely to say C'est qui, elle ? or simply Elle est qui ?
- Writing the phrase with a space before the question mark, like Qui est-elle ?, is a mandatory rule in French typography that differs from English.
Examples in context
- Qui est-elle? J'ai entendu parler d'elle, mais je ne sais pas grand-chose.Who is she? I have heard about her, but I don't know much.
- C'est qui, elle? Elle travaille dans le même bureau que moi.Who is she? She works in the same office as me.
- Qui est-elle ?Who is she?
- Pardon, qui est-elle ?Excuse me, who is she?
- Je ne la connais pas, qui est-elle ?I don't know her, who is she?
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are looking at a photograph.
- LéaRegarde cette photo. Qui est-elle ?Look at this photo. Who is she?
- LucasC'est ma nouvelle professeure.That is my new teacher.
- LéaElle a l'air très gentille.She looks very kind.
- LucasOui, elle est vraiment sympa.Yes, she is really nice.
