French Phrase
T'as quelque chose à déclarer ?
Meaning
Literally, “Do you have something to declare?” It is the question an officer (customs, police, security) asks when they want to know whether you are carrying anything that must be reported, such as goods, weapons, or information.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal spoken contexts when you are being questioned by an authority figure or a security guard. It is common at airports, border crossings, police checkpoints, or even in a casual “are you going to tell me something?” situation among friends.
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asquelquechoseàdéclarer?
Contraction T'as
T'as is the spoken contraction of Tu as. It is informal and used in everyday conversation.
Quelque chose
An indefinite pronoun meaning “something”. It stays the same in singular and plural contexts.
Infinitive after à
The infinitive verb déclarer follows the preposition à, forming the construction “à + infinitive” to express purpose or intention.
Question intonation
In spoken French, the rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes‑no question, even without “est‑ce que”.
🗨In Conversation
T'as quelque chose à déclarer ?
Do you have anything to declare?
Non, rien du tout.
No, nothing at all.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu as quelque chose à déclarer ?
Using the full form “Tu as” sounds overly formal for a spoken, casual setting; native speakers prefer the contraction “T'as”.
T'as quelque chose à déclarer.
A question needs a rising intonation or a question mark; ending with a period turns it into a statement (“You have something to declare”).
T'as quelque chose à déclarer, non ?
Adding “non ?” changes the nuance to a tag question, which is less common in official contexts and can sound confrontational.
↔Alternatives
Avez‑vous quelque chose à déclarer ?
Do you have anything to declare? (formal)
Vous avez quelque chose à déclarer ?
Do you have anything to declare? (neutral/polite)
Tu as quelque chose à déclarer ?
Do you have anything to declare? (less contracted, still informal)
Y a‑t‑il quelque chose à déclarer ?
Is there anything to declare?
Cultural Tip
In France, customs officers and police routinely ask this question at borders, airports, and during traffic stops. While the informal “T'as … ?” is perfectly natural in everyday speech, you should switch to the formal “Avez‑vous … ?” when speaking to officials you don’t know well or when you want to show respect. The phrase can also be used humorously among friends to ask if someone has a secret to spill.