French for Beginners: Asking 'What Do You Mean by That?' to Clarify Meaning
Learn elementary French phrases to ask what someone means when their statement is unclear, using standard contemporary French and polite registers.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When you talk with French speakers, you will sometimes hear a word or sentence you do not fully understand. Instead of guessing, you can ask directly about the meaning. This lesson teaches elementary French phrases for asking 'What do you mean by that?' and similar clarifications. You will learn to focus on meaning, not opinions, and to choose polite or informal wording for different situations.
By the end, you can…
- ask what someone means by a word or statement in French.
- use polite and informal clarification questions appropriately.
- respond when someone asks me what I mean.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ?
What do you mean by that? (polite, singular or plural)
kess-kuh voo voo-lay dee-rə par lah
Standard polite form. Use with strangers, teachers, or anyone you address as vous. The final consonant of voulez links to dire: voo-lay dweer.
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
What do you mean by that? (informal, one person)
kess-kuh too vuh dee-rə par lah
Informal tu form. Use with friends, family, and peers. The pronunciation of veux is vuh, not voo. In veux dire, the final x of veux is silent and the two words link: vuh dee-rə.
Comment ça ?
What do you mean? / How's that?
koh-mahn sah
Very common short reaction when something surprises you or seems unclear. It can sound neutral or slightly surprised depending on tone.
Je ne comprends pas. Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
I don't understand. What does that mean?
zhuh nuh kohn-prahn pah kess-kuh sah vuh dee-rə
Useful when you understand the words but not the meaning. In everyday speech, ne is often dropped: Je comprends pas.
Vous pouvez expliquer ?
Can you explain? (polite)
voo poo-vay eks-plee-kay
A direct request for explanation. With tu, say Tu peux expliquer ? (too puh eks-plee-kay).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is Qu'est-ce que + subject + vouloir dire par là ? For example: Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ? (polite) and Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? (informal). To ask what a word means, use Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? (kess-kuh sah vuh dee-rə), literally 'What does that want to say?' French uses vouloir dire, not a direct equivalent of 'to mean' in this structure. In these phrases, dire is pronounced dee-rə, with a final unstressed vowel sound.
When to use it
Use the vous form with people you do not know well, older people, or in formal contexts: Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ? Use the tu form with friends, classmates, and family: Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? For a quick reaction, Comment ça ? works in both formal and informal settings, but tone matters. If you only need a word explained, say Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? rather than the full phrase.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Je pense que ce projet est un peu compliqué.
I think this project is a bit complicated.zhuh pahnss kuh suh pro-zhay eh tun puh kohn-plee-kayQu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ?
What do you mean by that?kess-kuh voo voo-lay dee-rə par lahJe veux dire qu'il y a trop de détails à retenir.
I mean that there are too many details to remember.zhuh vuh dee-rə keel ee ah troh duh day-tie ah ruh-tuh-neerD'accord, merci. Maintenant je comprends mieux.
Okay, thank you. Now I understand better.dah-kor mair-see mant-nahn zhuh kohn-prahn myuhA little context goes a long way
In France, direct clarification questions are normal in conversation, but the choice of tu or vous signals social distance. Using tu with a stranger can seem too familiar, while vous with a close friend can sound distant or ironic. In Quebec, Comment ça ? is common, but intonation and context matter; a sharp tone can sound confrontational. When in doubt, use the polite vous form with people you have just met.
One thing to watch for
Using Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ? to ask 'What do you mean?'
Try this instead: Qu'est-ce que vous voulez ? means 'What do you want?' To ask about meaning, include dire par là: Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ? Without dire, the question changes completely.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask a friend 'What do you mean by that?' in informal French?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
This uses the informal tu form and the full meaning pattern vouloir dire par là. Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire ? is also acceptable when the context is clear.
2What short French phrase can you use when you are surprised and want someone to clarify?
Show a sample answer
Comment ça ?
Comment ça ? is a common short reaction meaning 'What do you mean?' or 'How's that?' It works in many contexts, but tone can make it sound neutral or surprised.
3How do you ask what a word means in French?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?
This asks 'What does that mean?' and is used for words, expressions, or statements. You can also say Ça veut dire quoi ? in informal speech.
To ask what someone means in French, use Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par là ? for polite situations and Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? with friends. For a quick reaction, Comment ça ? works well.
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