French Phrase
Qu'est-ce qu'on fait en premier en cas d'urgence ?
Meaning
The sentence asks for the first action to take when an emergency occurs. It is a practical, safety‑oriented question often used in drills, training sessions, or everyday conversation about emergency preparedness.
When to use
Use this phrase during safety briefings, classroom drills, workplace training, or when you need to clarify emergency procedures with friends or colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qu'est-cequ'onfaitenpremierencasd'urgence?
Qu'est‑ce que / Qu'est‑ce qu'
The fixed interrogative phrase used to ask "what"; when followed by a vowel or mute h, the final "e" drops and the apostrophe is added (Qu'est‑ce qu').
qu'on = que + on
A contraction of "que" (that/what) and "on" (one/we/people). It functions as the subject of the verb.
en premier
An adverbial phrase meaning "first"; placed after the verb to indicate order of actions.
en cas de + noun
A set expression meaning "in case of"; the noun follows the preposition "de" and contracts with the preceding vowel (d'urgence).
d'urgence
Elision of "de" before a vowel‑starting noun; means "of emergency".
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce qu'on fait en premier en cas d'urgence ?
What do we do first in case of an emergency?
Il faut d'abord appeler le 112, puis évacuer le bâtiment calmement.
First we should call 112, then calmly evacuate the building.
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est‑ce que on fait en premier en cas d'urgence ?
Missing the contraction; "qu'on" must be used to keep the sentence fluid.
Qu'est‑ce qu'on fait en cas d'urgence en premier ?
The order is correct, but learners sometimes place "en premier" after "cas d'urgence", which sounds awkward.
en cas de urgence
Do not write "de urgence"; the preposition contracts to "d'" before a vowel.
↔Alternatives
Que doit‑on faire en premier en cas d'urgence ?
What should we do first in case of an emergency?
Quelle est la première chose à faire en cas d'urgence ?
What is the first thing to do in an emergency?
Quelles sont les premières mesures à prendre en cas d'urgence ?
What are the first measures to take in an emergency?
Cultural Tip
In France, the universal emergency number is 112 (also 15 for medical emergencies and 17 for police). When asking this question in a formal setting, you may prefer "Que doit‑on faire…". In casual conversation, "Qu'est‑ce qu'on fait…" is perfectly natural. Remember that French speakers often stress the verb "faire" to underline the action plan.