French Phrase
C'est quoi la soupe du jour ?
Meaning
You are asking what the soup of the day is, typically at a restaurant, cafeteria, or bistro. It’s a casual way to find out the special soup being served that day.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re looking at a menu that lists "soupe du jour" or when a server mentions a daily soup and you want more details. It’s informal, so it works well with waitstaff you’re familiar with or in a relaxed dining setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estquoilasoupedujour?
C'est quoi
A colloquial way to ask "What is it?"; the formal equivalent is "Qu'est-ce que c'est ?"
du = de + le
"du" is the contraction of "de le" and expresses "of the" in "soupe du jour".
Noun phrase order
In French, the article and noun (la soupe) come before the prepositional phrase (du jour).
🗨In Conversation
C'est quoi la soupe du jour ?
What's the soup of the day?
Aujourd'hui, c'est une soupe de potiron, très crémeuse.
Today it's a pumpkin soup, very creamy.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est quoi le soupe du jour ?
"Soupe" is feminine, so the article must be "la", not "le".
C'est quoi la soupe du jour
In formal contexts, use "Quelle est la soupe du jour ?" instead of the colloquial "C'est quoi...".
C'est quoi la soupe de le jour ?
"du" already means "de le"; do not add another article (e.g., "de le jour").
↔Alternatives
Quelle est la soupe du jour ?
What is the soup of the day?
Qu'est-ce que c'est que la soupe du jour ?
What is the soup of the day?
Qu'est-ce qu'on sert comme soupe aujourd'hui ?
What soup are they serving today?
Cultural Tip
In French bistros and school cafeterias, a "soupe du jour" is a staple that changes daily, often reflecting seasonal produce. While "C'est quoi..." is perfectly natural in casual conversation, a more polite setting (e.g., a fine‑dining restaurant) might call for "Quelle est la soupe du jour ?". Also, remember that "soupe" is feminine, so the article is "la".