Complicated way of saying 'what is'

TomC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Complicated way of saying 'what is'

In the sentence 'Savez-vous ce que c'est qu'une "irrizina" ?', what is that second 'que' before the 'une' ?

Asked 2 years ago
ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

There's a lesson on different ways of asking "what is this?"

Qu'est-ce que c'est... and Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça/cela ? = What is... / What's that? in French

One option is:

Qu'est-ce que ce que ça? -- What is that?

The second que derives from that phrase. And if you now ask what this que is doing in that phrase in the first place, I'd have to take resort to saying that it's idiomatic.

Complicated way of saying 'what is'

In the sentence 'Savez-vous ce que c'est qu'une "irrizina" ?', what is that second 'que' before the 'une' ?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...