French Phrase
Vous êtes combien ?
Meaning
Literally ‘You are how many?’, this question is used to ask how many people are in a party, a group, or a reservation. It is a quick, informal way to get a headcount.
When to use
Use it when you need to know the number of people you’re dealing with – at a restaurant when the host asks for the size of your party, when arranging transport, or when a shop clerk needs to know how many tickets to issue.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vousêtescombien?
Vous (pronoun)
Second‑person plural pronoun used for formal address or when speaking to more than one person.
êtes (être)
Present‑tense form of the verb être for ‘you (plural/formal)’. It links the subject to a description or quantity.
combien (interrogative adverb)
Means ‘how many’. When placed after the verb être, it asks for the size of a group.
🗨In Conversation
Bonsoir, vous êtes combien ?
Good evening, how many are you?
Nous sommes quatre.
We are four.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu es combien ?
‘Tu’ is informal; use ‘vous’ unless you know the person well.
Combien vous êtes ?
The interrogative adverb ‘combien’ follows the verb être in this construction.
Vous avez combien ?
‘Avoir’ asks about possession, not about the size of a group.
↔Alternatives
Vous êtes combien de personnes ?
How many people are you?
Combien êtes‑vous ?
How many are you?
Quel est le nombre de personnes dans votre groupe ?
What is the number of people in your group?
Cultural Tip
In French, using ‘vous’ signals politeness or that you’re addressing more than one person. When you’re speaking to a single stranger, ‘vous’ is still the safe choice. Avoid ‘tu es combien ?’ unless you’re on very familiar terms, as it can sound rude. Also, French speakers often prefer the more complete form ‘Vous êtes combien de personnes ?’ in formal settings.