quoi
Quoi de neuf ?
What's new?
Used to ask for information about something or someone, equivalent to 'what' in English.
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
What is that?
Quoi ? Je n'ai rien dit !
What? I didn't say anything!
Often used in informal contexts and can be used alone or in combination with other words like 'qu'est-ce que' or 'qu'est-ce qui' for more formal questions.
Collocations
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Informal vs. Formal
'Quoi' is commonly used in informal contexts. For more formal questions, use 'qu'est-ce que' or 'qu'est-ce qui'.
Gold Rule
Usage in Questions
'Quoi' is primarily used to ask about things or express surprise. It is not used to ask about people (use 'qui' instead).
Word Origin
Derived from Old French 'que' (what) and 'oi' (a form of 'est' or 'est-ce'), evolving into a standalone interrogative pronoun.
Usage Notes
In informal speech, 'quoi' can be used alone to ask 'what?' or to express surprise or confusion. In more formal contexts, it is often combined with 'qu'est-ce que' or 'qu'est-ce qui'.