French Phrase
Tu vas rester combien de temps ?
Meaning
Literally, ‘You are going to stay how long?’ It asks the listener to specify the length of their stay, whether it’s a short visit or a longer stay.
When to use
Use this informal question when you want to know how long a friend, family member, or acquaintance plans to stay at a place – a house, a city, a hotel, or even a party. It’s perfect for casual travel conversations, host‑guest interactions, or when arranging logistics.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuvasrestercombiendetemps?
Subject pronoun (Tu)
The informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
Near‑future construction (vas + infinitive)
‘Vas’ is the present tense of ‘aller’ used as an auxiliary to form the near future (going to + infinitive).
Infinitive verb (rester)
‘Rester’ means ‘to stay’; in the near‑future construction it keeps its infinitive form.
Duration expression (combien de temps)
The fixed phrase ‘combien de temps’ asks about length of time; never ‘combien longtemps’.
🗨In Conversation
Tu vas rester combien de temps ?
How long are you going to stay?
Je vais rester trois jours, puis je repars à Paris.
I’m going to stay three days, then I’m heading back to Paris.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu vas rester combien longtemps ?
Duration is expressed with ‘combien de temps’, not ‘combien longtemps’.
Vous vas rester combien de temps ?
When using the formal ‘vous’, the verb must agree: ‘Vous allez rester…’.
Tu vas rester combien de temps
In written French, a question mark is required; omitting it can make the sentence look like a statement.
↔Alternatives
Combien de temps vas‑tu rester ?
How long are you going to stay?
Tu resteras combien de temps ?
How long will you stay?
Quelle sera la durée de ton séjour ?
What will be the length of your stay?
Cultural Tip
In French, ‘combien de temps’ is the standard way to ask about duration. Avoid the literal English‑style ‘combien longtemps’, which is considered incorrect. Also, remember the register: use ‘tu’ with people you know well; with strangers or in formal settings switch to ‘vous’ – e.g., ‘Vous allez rester combien de temps ?’. The near‑future (aller + infinitive) is very common in everyday speech to talk about plans that are already decided.