"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" (pronounced kess-kuh-say) is a French phrase that translates into English as "What is it?" or "What is that?"
Similar phrases to 'qu'est que c'est?" and their translations
- "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" (kess-kuh tu fay?) or "Qu'est-ce que vous faites?" (kess-kuh voo fets?) - "What are you doing?" The first is to be said to a friend or family member, and the second is more formal, like what you'd say to a teacher. The second one is also the plural, so you'd use that if you were asking more than one person what they were doing.
- "Quoi?" (kwa?) - "What?" (Informal)
- "Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?" (kess-kuh sa vuh deer?) OR "Ca veut dire quoi?" (sa vuh deer kwa?) - "What does that mean?" The first one is grammatically correct, and the second is a colloquial variation.
- "Qu'est-ce qu'il y a?" (kess-kill-ee-a?) - "What's the matter?"
- "Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe?" (Kess-kill spass?) - "What's going on?" or "What's happening?"
