French Phrase
Ça veut dire quoi, ce mot ?
Meaning
This phrase is a very common and informal way to ask for the meaning of a word or expression in French. Literally, it translates to "That wants to say what, this word?". It's versatile and can be used for single words or entire phrases you don't understand.
When to use
Use this phrase when you encounter an unfamiliar word or expression in a casual conversation, while reading, or watching something. It's perfectly suitable for informal settings with friends, family, or acquaintances, and is one of the most natural ways to ask this question in spoken French.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Çaveut direquoi,ce mot?
Ça
'Ça' is a very common informal contraction of 'cela' (that/it). It acts as a subject pronoun and is widely used in spoken French to refer to a general idea or situation.
Vouloir dire
This is a fixed expression meaning 'to mean' or 'to want to say'. It's the standard and most natural way to ask for the meaning of a word or phrase in French.
Quoi at the end
In informal spoken French, the interrogative pronoun 'quoi' (what) often appears at the end of a question, especially when seeking information about something. This is a common inversion for emphasis or informality.
Ce
'Ce' is a demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' or 'that'. It precedes a masculine singular noun, like 'mot' (word), to specify which word is being referred to.
🗨In Conversation
J'ai lu un article et il y avait le mot 'chouette'. Ça veut dire quoi, ce mot ?
I read an article and there was the word 'chouette'. What does this word mean?
Ah, 'chouette' ça veut dire 'cool' ou 'nice' en français !
Oh, 'chouette' means 'cool' or 'nice' in French!
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est-ce que ça signifie ce mot?
While 'signifier' means 'to mean', 'vouloir dire' is much more common and natural when asking for the meaning of a word in casual spoken French.
Ce mot veut dire quoi?
Although grammatically correct, the structure 'Ça veut dire quoi, ce mot?' is far more common and natural in everyday spoken French, using the 'ça' as a general subject.
Qu'est-ce que ce mot veut dire?
This is a more formal way to ask the question. 'Ça veut dire quoi' is the informal and more frequently used equivalent in conversation.
↔Alternatives
Que veut dire ce mot ?
What does this word mean?
C'est quoi, ce mot ?
What is this word?
Tu peux m'expliquer ce mot ?
Can you explain this word to me?
Cultural Tip
This phrase exemplifies a common characteristic of informal spoken French: the use of 'ça' as a general subject and placing the interrogative word 'quoi' at the end of the sentence. While more formal structures exist (e.g., 'Que veut dire ce mot ?'), this construction is highly prevalent and sounds very natural in everyday conversations among native speakers. Mastering it will make your French sound more authentic.