French Question Words: List, Examples and How to Use Them

Written by Murielle Larrière — French teacher in Dubai, DELF examiner, founder of Dubai French Tuitions.
Published May 29, 2026 · Last updated May 29, 2026 · 9 min read

Learning French becomes much easier when you know how to ask questions. Whether you are ordering coffee in Dubai Marina, speaking with French-speaking colleagues at DIFC, or planning a trip to Paris, question words are essential for real communication.

For expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates, mastering French question words is one of the fastest ways to feel confident in conversations and to improve listening and speaking skills.

In this guide, you will discover the eight essential French question words, the three ways to form a question, dozens of practical examples for daily situations, and a clear FAQ to answer the questions my students ask me most often.

Why French question words matter

Question words are the foundation of every real conversation. In ten years teaching French to expatriates in the UAE, I have noticed the same pattern: the students who progress fastest are not the ones who memorise the most vocabulary — they are the ones who learn to ask questions early.

Mastering question words helps you:

• ask for information,
• start conversations naturally,
• understand native speakers in cafés, taxis, and meetings,
• improve pronunciation and grammar through real use,
• build confidence in daily communication.

For beginners and intermediate students alike, mastering questions is one of the fastest paths to fluency.

The 8 essential French question words

These eight words appear in nearly every French conversation. Memorise them first — everything else builds on top.

The nasal vowels in quand, comment, and combien are usually the hardest for English speakers. The approximation above gives you the rhythm — the nuance comes with practice.

3 ways to form a question in French

French offers three ways to turn a statement into a question. Beginners should master the first two and recognise the third.

1. Using intonation (the easiest)

You simply raise your voice at the end of the sentence. The word order stays exactly the same as a statement.

Tu habites à Dubai ?
Translation: Do you live in Dubai?

This is the dominant method in everyday spoken French. If you remember nothing else, remember this.

2. Using est-ce que (the universal shortcut)

Add est-ce que in front of any statement and you have a question. Word order, again, does not change.

Est-ce que tu parles français ?
Translation: Do you speak French?

This structure is clearer than intonation and works in both spoken and written French. Perfect for beginners.

3. Inversion (formal and written French)

The verb and subject swap places, joined by a hyphen. This is the form you will see in books, business emails, and formal speech.

Parlez-vous français ?
Translation: Do you speak French?

Use inversion in professional contexts (DIFC meetings, formal correspondence, DELF exams).

Using Qui (who)

Qui is used to ask about a person — the subject of an action or the person involved.

Examples:

• Qui est ton professeur ? — Who is your teacher?
• Qui parle français ici ? — Who speaks French here?
• Avec qui travailles-tu ? — Who do you work with?
• Qui est-ce ? — Who is it? (a very common phrase, especially at the door or on the phone)

Useful in social settings, business introductions, and any conversation about people.

Using Que and Quoi (what)

French has two forms for “what”, and choosing between them is one of the most common mistakes my beginners make. Here is the simple rule:

• Que is used before a verb.
• Quoi is used after a preposition (à, de, avec, sur…) or at the end of a question in informal speech.

Examples with Que

• Que fais-tu ? — What are you doing?
• Que veux-tu manger ? — What do you want to eat?

Examples with Quoi

• Tu parles de quoi ? — What are you talking about?
• Avec quoi écris-tu ? — What are you writing with?

The beginner-friendly shortcut: Qu’est-ce que…

In spoken French, native speakers very often use qu’est-ce que, which combines que with est-ce que. It is the safest and most natural option for learners.

Qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
Translation: What are you doing?

If in doubt, default to this structure. You will sound perfectly natural.

Using Quand (when)

Quand is used to ask about time, schedules, and duration.

Examples:

• Quand commence le cours ? — When does the class start?
• Quand arrives-tu à Dubai ? — When are you arriving in Dubai?
• Depuis quand apprends-tu le français ? — How long have you been learning French?

Especially useful when planning meetings, asking about events, organising travel, or discussing daily routines — essential vocabulary for expatriates managing busy professional schedules.

Using Où (where)

Où means “where” and is essential for navigation and daily life.

Examples:

• Où habites-tu ? — Where do you live?
• Où est le restaurant ? — Where is the restaurant?
• Où puis-je apprendre le français à Dubai ? — Where can I learn French in Dubai?

You will use où constantly when taking taxis, shopping in malls, exploring the city, or arranging to meet someone. Learning this word quickly improves practical communication.

Using Pourquoi (why) and Comment (how)

These two question words open the door to deeper, more interesting conversations — the kind that build real fluency.

Pourquoi (why)

Examples:

• Pourquoi apprends-tu le français ? — Why are you learning French?
• Pourquoi étudies-tu en ligne ? — Why are you studying online?

The typical answer begins with parce que… (because…). Memorising the pair pourquoi / parce que is one of the most useful things a beginner can do.

Comment (how)

Examples:

• Comment vas-tu ? — How are you?
• Comment dit-on cela en français ? — How do you say that in French?
• Comment apprendre le français rapidement ? — How can you learn French quickly?

The last example is also a fantastic phrase to ask any French teacher you meet.

Question phrases for everyday situations

Theory is nothing without practice. Here are the question phrases you can start using today, grouped by context.

At a café

• Qu’est-ce que vous recommandez ? — What do you recommend?
• Combien coûte ce café ? — How much does this coffee cost?
• Est-ce que vous avez du lait d’avoine ? — Do you have oat milk?

At work

• Qui est responsable du projet ? — Who is responsible for the project?
• Quand est la réunion ? — When is the meeting?
• Pourriez-vous m’expliquer ? — Could you explain to me?

While travelling

• Où est la station de métro ? — Where is the metro station?
• Comment aller au centre-ville ? — How do I get to the city centre?
• Combien de temps pour y aller ? — How long does it take to get there?

In French class

• Que signifie ce mot ? — What does this word mean?
• Comment prononce-t-on cela ? — How do you pronounce this?
• Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ? — Can you repeat, please?

Practise these expressions daily for one week and you will notice an immediate jump in fluency.

Tips to master French question words faster

Learning question words is not a memory exercise — it is a habit exercise. Here is what actually works, based on what I see in my classrooms.

Six habits that build real fluency

• Practise one question word per day, in real situations.
• Repeat each question aloud at least three times to train pronunciation.
• Watch French YouTube videos or shows and write down every question you hear.
• Use flashcards (Anki, Quizlet) for spaced repetition.
• Practise with native speakers or a private French tutor.
• Create your own mini-dialogues using new question words.

The smartest learning strategy: learn full sentences, not isolated words

Instead of memorising the word où alone, memorise “Où habites-tu ?” as a complete unit. This builds muscle memory for grammar and pronunciation at the same time.

Three sentences worth memorising today:

• Où habites-tu ?
• Comment t’appelles-tu ?
• Pourquoi apprends-tu le français ?

This is exactly the method we use in The French Method — learning structures, not lists.

FAQ — French question words

What are the main French question words?

The eight essential French question words are: qui (who), que / quoi (what), quand (when), où (where), pourquoi (why), comment (how), quel / quelle (which), and combien (how much / how many). These cover the vast majority of questions in everyday French conversations.

What is the difference between que and quoi?

Que is used before a verb (Que fais-tu ? — What are you doing?). Quoi is used after a preposition (De quoi parles-tu ? — What are you talking about?) or at the end of an informal question. When in doubt, use the structure qu’est-ce que…, which works in almost every situation and sounds completely natural.

How do you form a question in French?

There are three main ways: (1) using intonation by raising your voice at the end of a statement (Tu habites à Dubai ?); (2) adding est-ce que in front of the statement (Est-ce que tu habites à Dubai ?); (3) inverting the subject and verb for formal contexts (Habites-tu à Dubai ?). Beginners should start with the first two methods.

What is the easiest way to ask a question in French?

Intonation is the easiest method — you simply keep the word order of a statement and raise your voice at the end. It is the most common form in spoken French and works in almost every casual situation. Once comfortable, learners should move to est-ce que for clarity in written and formal speech.

How do you use est-ce que in French?

Est-ce que is placed at the beginning of a statement to transform it into a question, without changing the word order. For example: Tu parles français (you speak French) becomes Est-ce que tu parles français ? (do you speak French?). It is the most beginner-friendly question structure in French.

Are French question words used differently in formal and informal speech?

Yes. In informal speech, intonation dominates (Tu viens quand ?). In formal speech and writing, inversion is preferred (Quand venez-vous ?). The est-ce que structure works in both registers, which is why it is the safest default for learners.

Continue learning French

• Learn basic French grammar — a clear and simple guide for beginners
• Irregular verbs in French — master the most common and tricky verbs
• Learning French for beginners — practical tips that work

About Murielle Larrière

Native French teacher based in Dubai, DELF examiner, and founder of Dubai French Tuitions. Murielle has taught French to hundreds of expatriates across the UAE since 2014, from absolute beginners to executives preparing for the DELF B2 exam. Read her full story →