French Phrase
Tu fais quoi le soir ?
Meaning
This is an informal, conversational way to ask about someone's plans or routine. The structure places the question word at the end, which is very common in spoken French compared to formal inversion or using 'est-ce que'.
When to use
Use this with friends, family, or peers when you want to know their habits or see if they are free to hang out. It is specifically for casual settings because it uses 'tu' and the 'quoi' ending.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tufaisquoile soir
Faire (fais)
The verb 'faire' means 'to do'. 'Tu fais' is the second-person singular present tense.
Quoi
In informal speech, 'quoi' replaces 'que' and moves to the end of the sentence.
🗨In Conversation
Tu fais quoi le soir ?
What are you doing in the evening?
D'habitude, je lis un peu et je me couche tôt.
Usually, I read a bit and go to bed early.
✕Common Mistakes
Quoi tu fais le soir ?
'Quoi' cannot be used at the start of a question like this; you should use 'Qu'est-ce que tu fais' or put 'quoi' at the end.
Tu fais quoi dans le soir ?
In French, you don't need a preposition like 'in' for times of day; 'le soir' or 'le matin' works on its own.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce soir ?
What are you doing tonight?
Tu fais quoi de beau ce soir ?
What are you up to tonight? (idiomatic)
Cultural Tip
In France, the evening is a sacred time for 'décompression'. Asking this often leads to a discussion about 'l'apéro', the social ritual of having drinks and snacks before dinner.