C'est qui ?
The English phrase "who is that?" is translated into French as C'est qui ?
This phrase is used to ask for the identity of a person.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, C'est qui ? means "It is who?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
C'est qui ? is the common, informal way to ask "Who is that?" in spoken French. For a more formal or grammatically standard way to ask, use Qui est-ce ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual speech, you can append a noun after C'est qui ? to specify the person you are asking about, such as in C'est qui, ce type ? (Who is that guy?).
Did you know?
- In very casual spoken French, the phrase C'est qui ? is often used even when the person is standing right in front of the speaker, effectively replacing the English 'Who are you?'
- In rapid, colloquial speech, the 'e' in C'est can become so short that the phrase sounds almost like a single, rhythmic syllable: S'qui ?.
- Depending on the intonation, C'est qui ? can be used as a rhetorical expression of disbelief or annoyance when someone unexpected interrupts a conversation.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, qui est-ce ?Excuse me, who is that?
- C'est qui ?Who is that?
- Désolé, mais c'est qui ?Sorry, but who is that?
