SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At The Post Office

French Phrase

C'est national ou international ?

/sɛ nasjɔnal u ɛ̃tɛʁnasjɔnal/
Meaning"Is it national or international?"
💡

Meaning

This question asks whether something—such as a law, a program, a product, or an event—is limited to the country (national) or extends beyond its borders (international). It can be used in both formal and informal contexts to clarify the scope of a subject.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase when you need to determine the geographic or jurisdictional reach of something. It’s common in business meetings, travel discussions, academic debates, and everyday conversations about news or policies.

✦Grammar Breakdown

C'estnationalouinternational?

1

C'est (ce + est)

C'est is the contraction of ce (this/that) + est (is) and is used to identify or describe something, especially before a noun or an adjective used as a noun.

2

Adjectifs nationaux

national and international are adjectives that can also function as nouns (e.g., le national, le international) when preceded by C'est.

3

Ou (or)

Ou is the coordinating conjunction meaning “or”. No accent is used; the accent grave (où) is only for “where”.

4

Question intonation

In spoken French, the rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes‑no question, even though the sentence ends with a question mark.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ce nouveau programme, c'est national ou international ?

Is this new program national or international?

C'est international, il s'applique à tous les pays de l'UE.

It's international; it applies to all EU countries.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Il est national ou international ?

    Use C'est, not Il est, because the adjective is being treated as a noun (the thing itself). Il est is used before an adjective that describes a known subject.

  • C’est national ou internationale ?

    Both adjectives must agree in gender and number; since "c’est" refers to a neutral concept, keep both adjectives masculine singular.

↔Alternatives

  • Est‑ce que c'est national ou international ?

    Is it national or international?

  • C'est de portée nationale ou internationale ?

    Is it of national or international scope?

  • Est‑il national ou international ?

    Is it national or international?

fr

Cultural Tip

In French, "national" often carries the connotation of being state‑run or officially sanctioned, while "international" can imply either EU‑wide cooperation or a truly global reach. In formal writing you might prefer the structure "Est‑ce que c'est…"; in spoken French, the contraction "C'est" is perfectly natural. Also, remember that "ou" (or) never takes an accent—"où" means "where".