SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to Daily Routine

French Phrase

Tu prépares le dîner ?

/ty pʁe.paʁ lə di.ne/
Meaning"Are you preparing dinner?"
💡

Meaning

Literally, “Are you preparing the dinner?” It’s a casual way to check if someone is cooking the evening meal, often used among family members or close friends.

🎯

When to use

Use this phrase in informal, spoken contexts—at home, with roommates, or when you’re planning the evening together. It would sound too familiar in a formal setting or with strangers.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tupréparesledîner?

1

Subject pronoun (Tu)

‘Tu’ is the informal second‑person singular pronoun used with friends, family, or peers.

2

Présent de l’indicatif – préparer

‘Préparer’ is conjugated in the present indicative: je prépare, tu prépares, il/elle prépare… The ‘‑s’ on ‘prépares’ marks the 2nd‑person singular.

3

Definite article (le)

‘Le’ is the masculine singular definite article that agrees with the noun ‘dîner’.

4

Question without inversion

In spoken French, a simple rising intonation turns a statement into a question; no inversion or ‘est‑ce que’ is required.

🗨In Conversation

A

Tu prépares le dîner ?

Are you preparing dinner?

Oui, je prépare des pâtes. Et toi, tu fais quoi ?

Yes, I’m making pasta. And you, what are you doing?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tu prépare le dîner ?

    Missing the ‘‑s’ for the 2nd‑person singular present tense.

  • Tu le prépares le dîner ?

    Do not duplicate the article; ‘le’ already belongs to ‘dîner’.

  • Tu prépares dîner ?

    The noun needs its definite article unless you’re speaking very generally.

  • Est‑tu tu prépares le dîner ?

    Incorrect inversion; the correct formal inversion is ‘Prépares‑tu le dîner ?’

↔Alternatives

  • Est‑ce que tu prépares le dîner ?

    Are you preparing dinner?

  • Tu cuisines ce soir ?

    Are you cooking tonight?

  • Tu t'occupes du dîner ?

    Are you taking care of dinner?

fr

Cultural Tip

In most of France, ‘dîner’ refers to the main evening meal, which is typically served around 8 pm or later. In some regions (especially in the south), ‘dîner’ can also mean the midday meal, so context matters. When you ask about dinner preparation, you’re also showing interest in the household routine—a sign of politeness and camaraderie.