French Phrase
Tu lis quoi le week‑end ?
Meaning
Literally, “You read what the weekend?” which in natural English is “What do you read on the weekend?” It asks the listener about their weekend reading habit, whether it’s novels, magazines, or anything else.
When to use
Use this informal question with friends, classmates, or coworkers when you want to know what they like to read during their free time on Saturday or Sunday. It’s too casual for a formal interview or a written email.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tulisquoileweek-end?
Subject pronoun (Tu)
‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.
Present tense of lire (lis)
‘Lis’ is the present‑tense conjugation of the verb ‘lire’ (to read) for ‘tu’.
Interrogative ‘quoi’ after the verb
In spoken French, the question word ‘quoi’ can follow the verb directly, giving a casual tone: ‘Tu lis quoi ?’
Borrowed noun ‘week‑end’
‘Week‑end’ is an Anglicism fully integrated into French; it behaves like a masculine noun and takes the article ‘le’.
🗨In Conversation
Tu lis quoi le week‑end ?
What do you read on the weekend?
Je lis des romans policiers, surtout le dimanche soir.
I read crime novels, especially on Sunday evenings.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu lis que le week‑end ?
‘Que’ cannot directly follow the verb in this casual structure; use ‘quoi’ instead.
Tu lis quoi week‑end ?
Avoid omitting the article; ‘le’ is required because ‘week‑end’ is a masculine noun.
Tu lit quoi le week‑end ?
Make sure the verb agrees with ‘tu’; the correct form is ‘lis’, not ‘lit’ (third‑person singular).
↔Alternatives
Qu'est‑ce que tu lis le week‑end ?
What do you read on the weekend?
Quel livre lis‑tu le week‑end ?
Which book do you read on the weekend?
Tu lis quoi pendant le week‑end ?
What do you read during the weekend?
Cultural Tip
In France, many people enjoy reading a short novel or a magazine over a café au lait on a lazy Sunday. The word ‘week‑end’ entered French in the 1960s and is now standard, but in very formal writing you might still see ‘fin de semaine’. When speaking to older generations, you may prefer the more formal ‘Qu’est‑ce que vous lisez le week‑end ?’ to show respect.