/kɛl/
Translation
what, which (masculine singular)
Word origin
From Latin qualis ('of what kind, what sort').
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- qualis
- English cognates
- quality, qualify
Examples
- ?
What film did you watch last night with your friends?
cette !
What a shame not to have been able to come to this wonderful evening!
?
Which country does this dish come from?
- aujourd'hui ?
What's the weather like in the south today?
Quelle , !
What good news, I'm really happy for you!
s'accorde en genre et en nombre : quel (m. sg.), quelle (f. sg.), quels (m. pl.), quelles (f. pl.). Il fonctionne comme adjectif interrogatif (quel âge as-tu ?) et comme adjectif exclamatif (quel beau paysage !). Quel dans l'exclamation est une caractéristique très française : quelle chance !, quel idiot !
Dans les propositions relatives, quel que + subjonctif du verbe être exprime la concession (quel que soit le résultat - whatever the result may be). Ne pas confondre avec qu'elle (que + elle) ou qu'elles, homophones à l'oral.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
(8)French Concession Clauses: However It Turns Out
How to Say However, Although, Even Though and Despite in French
French Demonstrative Pronouns: celui, celle, ceux, celles
French Interrogatives: qui, que, où, quand, comment, pourquoi, combien, quel
French quel and lequel: Which and Which One
French Question Words: qui, que, quand, où, comment, pourquoi and the Three Ways to Ask
French Relative Pronouns After a Preposition: lequel, auquel, duquel
Reported Questions and Commands in French
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quel: worksheet, infographic and listicle
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 2.