Back to At School

French Phrase

De quoi on a besoin ?

/də kwa ɔ̃ a bə.zwɛ̃/

Meaning"What do we need?"

💡

Meaning

Literally, 'Of what do we need?' It is the informal way to ask 'What do we need?' in a group setting. The phrase is colloquial and commonly heard when planning a meal, a trip, or any activity that requires supplies.

🎯

When to use

Use this sentence in casual conversations with friends, family, or colleagues when you want to know what items or resources are required. It’s perfect for brainstorming, shopping lists, or coordinating tasks in a relaxed environment.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Dequoionabesoin?

1

De quoi

Interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' used before a verb that requires the preposition 'de'.

2

on

Informal subject pronoun that can mean 'we' in everyday speech.

3

a besoin de

Verb phrase 'avoir besoin de' = 'to need'. The auxiliary 'avoir' is conjugated, and the noun follows the preposition 'de'.

4

Word order

In spoken French the question often keeps the declarative order (De quoi on a besoin ?) rather than using inversion.

🗨In Conversation

A

De quoi on a besoin ?

What do we need?

On a besoin de pain, de lait et de beurre.

We need bread, milk, and butter.

B

✕Common Mistakes

De quoi on besoin ?
The verb 'avoir' must be conjugated; you need 'a' before 'besoin'.
De quoi on a besoin ? (formal writing)
In formal writing, the preposition 'de' after 'besoin' should stay, but the question should use inversion: 'De quoi avons‑nous besoin ?'.
De quoi on a besoin de ?
Avoid adding an extra 'de' after the phrase; the preposition is already part of 'besoin de'.

↔Alternatives

Qu'est-ce dont on a besoin ?
What do we need?
De quoi avons‑nous besoin ?
What do we need?
Qu'est‑ce qu'il nous faut ?
What do we need?

Cultural Tip

In French, the pronoun 'on' replaces 'nous' in most spoken contexts, giving the sentence a friendly tone. While 'De quoi on a besoin ?' is perfectly natural in conversation, a more formal setting would use inversion: 'De quoi avons‑nous besoin ?' or replace 'on' with 'nous'. Also, remember that after 'besoin' the preposition 'de' is mandatory; omitting it is a common error for learners.