pronounpronoun

quoi

what

Mot utilisé pour demander une explication, une chose, ou pour montrer qu’on n’a pas compris quelque chose.

Word: quoi

Meaning:

In French, quoi is an interrogative pronoun and adverb that translates to "what" in English. It is commonly used to ask about things, objects, or situations.

Uses and Meanings:

Interrogative Pronoun (What?)
- Used to ask questions about something.
- Example: Quoi? – "What?"
- It can also be part of a question like: De quoi parles-tu ? – "What are you talking about?"
Informal Emphasis or Filler
- Sometimes quoi is used informally or colloquially to emphasize a statement, similar to "you know" or "like" in English.
- Example: C'est pas facile, quoi. – "It's not easy, you know."

Parts and Grammar:

It is an indeclinable interrogative pronoun or adverb.
Can occur alone or as part of compound interrogatives:
- De quoi – "about what"
- À quoi – "to what" or "what... for"

Synonyms:

Que – Also means "what." Que is more formal or commonly used in writing, while quoi often appears in spoken French especially after prepositions.

Antonyms:

There is no direct antonym for quoi because it is an interrogative word seeking information rather than expressing qualities that can be opposed.

Summary:
Quoi means "what" and is used to ask questions about things or as a colloquial emphatic filler in French. It commonly occurs after prepositions and is an essential interrogative word.