French Phrase
Tu manges quoi au petit‑déj' ?
Meaning
Literally, ‘You eat what at the breakfast?’ It is the informal way to ask someone what they are having for breakfast. The sentence is casual, friendly and typical of spoken French.
When to use
Use this phrase with friends, classmates, coworkers you know well, or family members when you’re curious about their morning meal. It’s not appropriate in a formal interview or with strangers you should address politely.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tumangesquoiaupetit‑déj'
Subject pronoun : Tu
‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family or peers.
Verb : manges
‘Manger’ conjugated in the present tense for ‘tu’ → ‘manges’. No subject‑verb inversion here.
Interrogative : quoi
In spoken French the question word ‘quoi’ can be placed after the verb (Tu manges quoi ?) instead of the formal ‘Que … ?’.
Preposition + article : au
‘au’ = à + le, meaning ‘at the / for the’. It introduces the meal name.
Colloquial abbreviation : petit‑déj'
‘Petit‑déj'’ is the everyday short form of ‘petit déjeuner’. The apostrophe marks the omitted letters.
🗨In Conversation
Tu manges quoi au petit‑déj' ?
What are you eating for breakfast?
Je prends un croissant et un café.
I’m having a croissant and a coffee.
✕Common Mistakes
Que manges‑tu au petit‑déjeuner ?
Correct but overly formal for casual conversation; learners often use it when a relaxed tone is required.
Quel manges‑tu au petit‑déj' ?
‘Quel’ cannot be used with the verb ‘manger’; the correct interrogative pronoun is ‘quoi’ or ‘que’.
Tu manges quoi au petit déjeuner
Missing the apostrophe in the colloquial form and the question mark makes it look like a statement rather than a question.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est‑ce que tu manges au petit‑déjeuner ?
What are you eating for breakfast?
Tu prends quoi au petit‑déj' ?
What are you having for breakfast?
Quel est ton petit‑déj' aujourd'hui ?
What’s your breakfast today?
Cultural Tip
A typical French breakfast is light: a croissant, pain au chocolat, tartine with butter and jam, and a café au lait or orange juice. Saying ‘petit‑déj'’ is common among younger speakers and in informal settings; older generations may prefer the full ‘petit déjeuner’. Remember that asking about food is a friendly way to start a conversation in France, but keep the tone casual – avoid the formal ‘Que mangez‑vous…?’ unless you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well.