French Phrase
Tu essaies de joindre qui ?
Meaning
This phrase literally translates to "You are trying to join whom?" but it's used to ask who someone is attempting to contact or get in touch with, typically by phone or other communication means. It implies an effort to establish contact with a specific person.
When to use
Use this phrase when you see someone trying to call or contact someone, and you want to know who they are trying to reach. It's a common, informal way to inquire about the identity of the person being sought. For example, if a friend is repeatedly calling someone and getting no answer, you might ask this.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuessaiesdejoindrequi
Tu
'Tu' is the informal singular pronoun for 'you'. It's used when speaking to friends, family, children, or people you know well.
Essaies de
'Essaies' is the 'tu' form of the verb 'essayer' (to try). 'Essayer de' means 'to try to' and is followed by an infinitive verb, in this case, 'joindre'.
Joindre
'Joindre' means 'to reach', 'to contact', or 'to get in touch with'. It's commonly used when referring to contacting someone by phone or other communication methods.
Qui
'Qui' is an interrogative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whom'. In informal spoken French, it's very common to place 'qui' at the end of a question, rather than using inversion or 'est-ce que'.
🗨In Conversation
J'ai essayé de l'appeler toute la journée, mais ça ne répond pas.
I've been trying to call him all day, but there's no answer.
Ah, tu essaies de joindre qui ?
Oh, who are you trying to reach?
✕Common Mistakes
Tu essaies de joindre quoi ?
The pronoun 'quoi' is used for things, not people. When asking 'who' for a person, 'qui' is the correct interrogative pronoun.
Qui tu essaies de joindre ?
While sometimes heard in very informal speech, placing 'qui' at the beginning without inversion or 'est-ce que' is generally considered less grammatically correct. Ending the sentence with 'qui' is more natural and common in informal spoken French.
↔Alternatives
Qui cherches-tu à joindre ?
Who are you looking to reach?
Qui veux-tu joindre ?
Who do you want to reach?
Vous essayez de joindre qui ?
Who are you (formal/plural) trying to reach?
Cultural Tip
This phrase is quite informal due to the use of 'tu' and the common spoken French structure of placing the interrogative pronoun 'qui' at the end of the sentence. In more formal contexts, or when speaking to someone you don't know well, you would use 'vous' and might opt for a more structured question like 'Qui essayez-vous de joindre ?' or 'Qui est-ce que vous essayez de joindre ?'. However, 'Tu essaies de joindre qui ?' is perfectly natural and widely used among friends and family.