Asking Clarifying Questions in French: "Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par...?"
Learn intermediate French phrases to ask what someone means, request rephrasing, and check which sense of a word is intended, without pretending you already understand.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
When you do not understand something in French, the most useful move is not to nod politely but to ask precisely what the other person means. This lesson gives you a small set of question patterns built around vouloir dire (to mean), plus ways to ask for a rephrasing or a concrete example. You will practise asking about a word, a whole sentence, or a vague comment. The focus is on getting clarification, not on confirming that you have understood; that is a different skill. All examples are in standard contemporary French, with notes on register and regional usage where relevant.
By the end, you can…
- ask what a word, phrase, or comment means using vouloir dire.
- ask someone to rephrase or give an example when their meaning is still unclear.
- choose between tu and vous forms of these questions according to the situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
What do you mean by that?
kess-kuh tuh vuh dir par la
Neutral spoken French with tu. Use with friends, family, classmates, and colleagues you already address as tu. The final là is optional but very common in speech.
Qu'est-ce que vous entendez par « délai » ?
What do you mean by "délai"?
kess-kuh voo zahn-tahn-day par duh-leh
More formal or careful, with vous. Useful in professional or academic settings when a specific word is ambiguous. Note the required liaison: vous entendez becomes voo-zahn-tahn-DAY.
Comment ça, exactement ?
What exactly do you mean? / How so, exactly?
koh-mahn sa eg-zak-tuh-mahn
Short and conversational. It signals that the previous statement was too vague. Works with both tu and vous because it contains no subject pronoun.
Tu peux reformuler, s'il te plaît ?
Can you rephrase that, please?
tuh puh ruh-for-mew-lay seel tuh pleh
Use when you understood the words but not the overall message. With vous, say Vous pouvez reformuler, s'il vous plaît ?
Tu peux me donner un exemple ?
Can you give me an example?
tuh puh muh doh-nay uh-neg-zahmpl
Very effective when an abstract explanation remains unclear. With vous: Vous pouvez me donner un exemple ?
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is vouloir dire, literally "to want to say," which is the normal French way to express "to mean." The question word comes first: Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par... ? or Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par... ? You can also use the shorter form Tu veux dire quoi par... ? which is common in informal speech. For a specific word, put it after par: Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par « ambigu » ? For a whole idea, use par là: Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? Do not translate English "What means...?" word for word; Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ? is the correct question for "What does that mean?"
When to use it
Use these questions when the meaning, not the pronunciation, is the problem. If you missed the words, say Je n'ai pas entendu, tu peux répéter ? If you heard the words but the idea is unclear, ask Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ? If a single term is ambiguous, name it: Qu'est-ce que vous entendez par « délai » ? In a meeting, Comment ça, exactement ? is a compact way to ask for precision without sounding confrontational. In writing, the same structures work, but avoid the very informal Tu veux dire quoi ? in formal emails.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Je pense qu'on devrait revoir le planning.
I think we should review the schedule.zhuh pahns kohn duh-vreh ruh-vwahr luh plah-neengQu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
What do you mean by that?kess-kuh tuh vuh dir par laJe veux dire qu'il y a peut-être une erreur dans les dates.
I mean that there may be a mistake in the dates.zhuh vuh dir keel ya puh-tehtr ewn eh-ruhr dahn lay datD'accord. Tu peux me donner un exemple ?
Okay. Can you give me an example?dah-kor tuh puh muh doh-nay uh-neg-zahmplA little context goes a long way
French speakers often use shorter, more direct clarification questions than English speakers might expect, and this is not rude in context. However, register matters: Tu veux dire quoi ? is fine among friends but can sound abrupt at work. In professional French, prefer Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par... ? or Pourriez-vous préciser ? In Quebec, informal speech may use Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire de même ? but the standard forms above are understood everywhere.
One thing to watch for
Saying Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire ? when you actually missed the words and need repetition.
Try this instead: Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire ? asks about meaning, not repetition. If you did not hear, say Tu peux répéter, s'il te plaît ? If you heard but do not understand the sense, then ask Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are in a meeting and your colleague says the deadline is "flexible." You want to know what they mean by that specific word. What do you ask?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que vous entendez par « flexible » ?
This names the ambiguous word and uses vous for a professional setting. Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire par « flexible » ? is also correct and slightly more common in speech.
2A friend says, "C'est pas si simple." You understood the words but not the point. What is a natural informal question?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que tu veux dire par là ?
This asks for the intended meaning of the whole comment. Tu veux dire quoi par là ? is also acceptable among friends but more informal.
3You still do not understand an abstract explanation. Which phrase asks for a concrete illustration?
Show a sample answer
Tu peux me donner un exemple ?
This requests an example rather than a rephrasing. Vous pouvez me donner un exemple ? is the formal equivalent. Tu peux reformuler ? asks for different words, not necessarily an example.
When meaning is unclear, ask directly with vouloir dire or entendez par, and choose tu or vous to match the relationship. Keep repetition questions separate from meaning questions.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s French into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr