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French Phrase

Oui, bien sûr, tu prenais quoi ?

/wi bjɛ̃ syʁ ty pʁə.nɛ kwa/

Meaning"Yes, of course, what were you taking?"

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Meaning

The speaker confirms something with enthusiasm ('yes, of course') and then asks what the listener was taking or ordering. The use of the imparfait signals that the action is in the past or was a habitual choice.

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When to use

Use this sentence in casual conversation when you want to confirm something and inquire about a past or ongoing choice—e.g., at a café, a shop, or when discussing a previous event.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ouibien sûrtuprenaisquoi?

1

Oui

Simple affirmation, equivalent to 'yes' in English.

2

bien sûr

An idiomatic expression meaning 'of course', used to reinforce agreement.

3

Imparfait (tu prenais)

The imparfait of 'prendre' (to take) describes an ongoing or repeated past action; here it asks about what someone was taking.

4

Interrogative pronoun (quoi)

‘quoi’ is used after a verb in informal spoken French to ask ‘what?’. It follows the verb rather than preceding it.

🗨In Conversation

A

Je vais prendre un croissant et un café.

I’m going to have a croissant and a coffee.

Oui, bien sûr, tu prenais quoi ?

Yes, of course, what were you taking?

B

✕Common Mistakes

Oui, bien sûr, tu prends quoi ?
Using the present tense ‘prends’ changes the meaning to a current action; the original phrase refers to a past or habitual action.
Oui, bien sûr, qu'est‑ce que tu prenais ?
While grammatically correct, it sounds more formal; the original uses the informal ‘quoi’ for a relaxed tone.
Bien sûr, oui, tu prenais quoi ?
The typical order is ‘Oui, bien sûr…’; swapping them sounds unnatural.

↔Alternatives

Oui, évidemment, qu'est-ce que tu prenais ?
Yes, obviously, what were you taking?
Oui, tout à fait, tu prenais quoi ?
Yes, absolutely, what were you taking?
Oui, bien sûr, qu'est‑ce que tu prenais ?
Yes, of course, what were you taking?

Cultural Tip

In French, ‘bien sûr’ adds a polite, confident tone and is common in both formal and informal settings. The imparfait in a question like ‘tu prenais quoi ?’ is typical of spoken French when referring to a past or repeated action; in written or very formal contexts you might instead use the passé composé (tu as pris quoi ?).