French Phrase
C'est qui l'infirmière de l'école ?
Meaning
This informal question asks for the identity of the nurse who works at the school. It is equivalent to the more formal "Qui est l'infirmière de l'école ?" and is commonly heard in everyday conversation among students, parents, or staff.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings – for example, when you’re chatting with a fellow parent, a student, or a colleague and you want to know who the school nurse is. In a formal or professional context (e.g., speaking to a principal), switch to the more formal "Qui est l'infirmière de l'école ?".
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estquil'infirmièredel'école
C'est + qui
In informal spoken French, "C'est qui" is used to ask "Who is..." instead of the more formal "Qui est...".
L' + noun (elision)
The article "le" or "la" drops the vowel before a word that begins with a vowel or mute h, becoming "l'" (e.g., l'infirmière, l'école).
Feminine noun ending in -ière
Infirmière ends in -ière, a typical feminine ending; the adjective and article must agree in gender.
Preposition de + l'
The preposition "de" contracts with the elided article "l'" to indicate belonging or association ("de l'école" = "of the school").
Question intonation
When spoken, the sentence ends with a rising intonation, signalling a question even though it ends with a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
C'est qui l'infirmière de l'école ?
Who is the school nurse?
C'est Marie, elle travaille ici depuis cinq ans.
It's Marie, she's been working here for five years.
✕Common Mistakes
Quel est l'infirmière de l'école ?
"Quel" is used for nouns, not people; you need the interrogative pronoun "Qui".
C'est qui l'infirmier de l'école ?
If you mean a female nurse, use "l'infirmière"; "infirmier" is masculine.
C'est qui l'infirmière de l'ecole ?
Missing the accent on "école" changes pronunciation and is considered a spelling error.
↔Alternatives
Qui est l'infirmière de l'école ?
Who is the school nurse?
Comment s'appelle l'infirmière de l'école ?
What is the school nurse's name?
Quelle est le nom de l'infirmière de l'école ?
What is the name of the school nurse?
Cultural Tip
In French schools, the infirmière is often a trusted adult who handles minor injuries, health advice, and sometimes even emotional support. While students may use the informal "C'est qui..." with peers, teachers and administrators usually prefer the formal "Qui est...". Also, remember that "infirmière" is always feminine; the male counterpart is "infirmier".