pourquoi tu demandes ?
The English phrase "why do you ask?" is translated into French as pourquoi tu demandes ?
This phrase is used to ask someone for the reason behind their inquiry.
Which one should you use?
In casual spoken French, the word order often follows a statement (subject + verb) rather than the formal inversion (verb + subject) used in writing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of tu makes pourquoi tu demandes ? informal and suitable for friends, family or peers. Using pourquoi demandez-vous ? is the formal or polite way to ask the same question, suitable for strangers or professional settings. Other formal ways include Pourquoi me posez-vous cette question ? and Pourquoi me demandez-vous cela ?
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, one might commonly hear Pourquoi tu me demandes ça? In Senegal, one may come across Pourquoi est-ce que tu me demandes ça?
Did you know?
- In French, the verb demander means 'to ask' for information or a favor, but it cannot be used to ask a question. To say 'ask a question', French speakers use the phrase poser une question, which literally means 'to pose a question'.
- The word tu is a distant relative of the English word 'thou'. While 'thou' became obsolete in standard English, tu remains the primary way to address friends and family in French.
- The word pourquoi evolved from the Old French por quoi, which literally means 'for what'. This reflects a logical structure where the speaker is asking for the purpose or motive behind the question.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are chatting in a café.
- EmmaEst-ce que tu as fini ton travail ?Have you finished your work?
- HugoPourquoi tu demandes ?Why do you ask?
- EmmaJe voulais te proposer une sortie.I wanted to suggest going out.
- HugoAh, d'accord, je suis libre !Ah, okay, I am free!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pourquoi, tu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
