French Phrase
T'as un kit d'urgence ?
Meaning
Literally: “Do you have an emergency kit?” It asks whether the listener possesses a set of supplies (first‑aid items, water, flashlight, etc.) that can be used in an emergency situation.
When to use
Use this informal question with friends, family, or coworkers when you’re talking about preparedness, a sudden storm, a camping trip, or any situation where a quick safety check is needed. Avoid it in formal or professional written communication.
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asunkitd'urgence?
Contraction T'as
« T'as » is the spoken contraction of « tu as ». It is informal and used mainly in spoken French.
Indefinite article « un »
« un » introduces a masculine singular noun. Here it signals that the kit is not a specific, previously‑mentioned one.
Borrowed noun « kit »
« kit » is an Anglicism that has been fully integrated; it behaves like a masculine noun (un kit).
Preposition « d' » + noun
« d'urgence » = « de urgence ». The elision (d') is required because « urgence » starts with a vowel.
Question intonation
In spoken French, a rising intonation after the statement turns it into a question; the written form adds a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
T'as un kit d'urgence ?
Do you have an emergency kit?
Oui, j'en ai un dans le garage. Et toi ?
Yes, I have one in the garage. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
T'as un kit de urgence ?
Never write « de urgence »; the correct elided form is « d'urgence » because the noun starts with a vowel.
T'as une trousse d'urgence ?
While « kit » is accepted, beginners sometimes try to translate literally as « trousse »; both are correct but the nuance differs (kit is more generic).
Tu as un kit d'urgence ?
Using the full form « Tu as » in a spoken informal context sounds stiff; the contraction is preferred among peers.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce que tu as un kit d'urgence ?
Do you have an emergency kit?
Tu as un kit d'urgence ?
Do you have an emergency kit?
As‑tu un kit d'urgence ?
Do you have an emergency kit?
Vous avez un kit d'urgence ?
Do you (plural/formal) have an emergency kit?
Cultural Tip
In France, emergency kits (kits d'urgence) became especially popular after the 2018 floods in the south and the 2020 COVID‑19 lockdowns, when people were encouraged to keep basic supplies at home. When speaking to strangers or in a professional setting, replace the informal « T'as » with « Vous avez » or the full form « Est‑ce que vous avez… » to stay polite.