what Signification, définition

Signification de what en français

• 0 used to ask for specific information -- quel [ masculine, singular ]

  • What time is the meeting tomorrow? A quelle heure est la réunion demain ?

  • What type of food would you like? Quel type de nourriture aimeriez-vous ?

• 1 emphasizes a description -- quel [ masculine, singular ]

  • What a terrible thing to do! Quelle horrible chose à faire !

  • What beautiful children you have. Quels beaux enfants vous avez.

• 2 used to ask for specific information -- qu’est ce qui

  • What do you think she’s going to say? Que penses-tu qu’elle va dire ?

  • What did you do? Qu’avez vous / Qu’est-ce que vous avez fait ?

• 3 the thing that is being talked about -- ce qui

  • She told me what had happened. Elle m’a dit ce qui est arrivé.

• 4 used to ask about the purpose of sth -- pourquoi

  • What’s this money for? A quoi est destiné cet argent ?

  • What did you do that for? Pourquoi avez-vous fait ça ?

• 5 used to ask why -- pourquoi ?

  • “I told them to leave.” “What for?” “Je leur ai dit de partir.” “Pourquoi ?”

• 6 used to introduce a possibility -- et si … ?

  • What if he doesn’t come? Et s’il ne venait pas ?

  • What if we try a different way. Et si nous essayions autrement.

• 7 indicates you do not think sth is important -- et alors ?

  • “You left your bike outside.” “So what?” “Tu as laissé ton vélo dehors.” “Et alors ?”

• 8 used to ask sb to repeat sth that you did not hear -- comment

  • What? Did you say 4,000? Comment/Quoi ? Est-ce que tu as dit 4 000 ?

• 9 indicates you are listening -- dis/dites

  • “Mom!” “What?” “Can we watch TV now?” “Maman !” “Dis ?” “On peut regarder la télé maintenant ?”

• 10 indicates surprise or anger -- c’est pas vrai

  • What! The tickets are sold out? C’est pas vrai ! Tous les billets ont été vendus ?

• 11 used in questions etc when asking someone to point out, state etc one or more persons, things etc -- quel, qu’est-ce que, ce que

  • What street is this?

  • What’s your name/address/telephone number?

  • What time is it?

  • What (kind of) bird is that?

  • What is he reading?

  • What did you say?

  • What is this cake made of?

  • ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ ‘A doctor.’

  • Tell me what you mean

  • I asked him what clothes I should wear.

• 12 (also adverb) used in exclamations of surprise, anger etc -- quel, qu’est-ce que

  • What clothes she wears!

  • What a fool he is!

  • What naughty children they are!

  • What a silly film this is!

• 13 the thing(s) that -- ce que

  • Did you find what you wanted?

  • These tools are just what I need for this job

  • What that child needs is a good telling-off!

• 14 (also relative adjective) any (things or amount) that; whatever -- quel/-elle(s), ce que

  • I’ll lend you what clothes you need

  • Please lend me what you can.