French Phrase
Qu'est-ce que tu fais en premier ?
Meaning
Literally, “What do you do first?” It is used to ask someone about the first step they will take in a plan, activity, or sequence of actions. The question can refer to the immediate next action or the habitual first thing someone does.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to know the order of actions in a conversation, such as planning a trip, cooking a recipe, or organizing a project. It works best in informal settings with friends or peers; switch to 'Qu'est-ce que vous faites en premier ?' for a more formal tone.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qu'est-cequetufaisenpremier?
Qu'est-ce que
Standard way to form a wh‑question; literally 'what is it that'.
tu
Informal second‑person singular pronoun; use 'vous' in formal contexts.
fais
Present tense of the verb *faire* (to do / to make) conjugated for 'tu'.
en premier
Adverbial phrase meaning 'first' or 'as the first thing'.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce que tu fais en premier ?
What do you do first?
Je prépare le café, puis je lis les e‑mails.
I make coffee first, then I read the e‑mails.
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est-ce que tu fais premier ?
Missing the preposition *en*; the adverbial phrase must be *en premier*.
Tu fais quoi en premier ?
While understandable, *tu fais quoi* is very informal and can sound abrupt in polite conversation.
Qu'est-ce que vous faites d'abord ?
This version is correct but changes the nuance; *d'abord* is more colloquial than *en premier*.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire en premier ?
What are you going to do first?
Quelle est la première chose que tu fais ?
What is the first thing you do?
Tu fais quoi en premier ?
What do you do first? (very informal)
Cultural Tip
In French, the choice between *tu* and *vous* signals the level of familiarity. With strangers, colleagues, or elders, use the formal *vous*: "Qu'est-ce que vous faites en premier ?". Also, while *en premier* is perfectly correct, many speakers prefer the synonym *d'abord* in everyday speech, e.g., "Qu'est‑ce que tu fais d'abord ?". Be aware that *premier* agrees in gender and number when used as an adjective (e.g., *le premier jour*), but as an adverb it stays invariable.