French Phrase
T'as fait quoi ces derniers temps ?
Meaning
Literally “You have done what these last times?” – in everyday French it means “What have you been up to lately?” It’s a friendly, informal way to ask someone about recent activities.
When to use
Use this phrase when catching up with friends, family, or colleagues in a relaxed setting. It’s perfect for coffee chats, after‑work gatherings, or any casual conversation where you want to know what someone has been doing recently.
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asfaitquoicesdernierstemps?
Contraction T'
T' is the spoken contraction of the subject pronoun tu before a verb starting with a vowel.
Passé composé (as + fait)
The verb avoir in present (as) + past participle (fait) forms the passé composé, indicating a completed action in the past.
Interrogative quoi
In informal questions, quoi can replace what after the verb, similar to “what” in English.
Expression ces derniers temps
Literally “these last times,” it means “lately” or “recently.”
🗨In Conversation
T'as fait quoi ces derniers temps ?
What have you been up to lately?
Pas grand‑chose, je travaille beaucoup et je fais du sport le week‑end.
Not much, I’ve been working a lot and I play sports on the weekend.
✕Common Mistakes
T'as fait quoi ces dernier temps ?
Both “derniers” and “temps” need the plural –‑> “ces derniers temps”.
T'as fait que ces derniers temps ?
In very formal French you would use “que” instead of “quoi”.
T' as fait quoi ces derniers temps ?
Never separate the contraction; it must stay together as “t’as”.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est‑ce que tu as fait récemment ?
What have you done recently?
Tu as fait quoi ces derniers temps ?
What have you been doing lately?
Quoi de neuf ces derniers temps ?
What’s new lately?
Cultural Tip
The contraction T' and the use of quoi after the verb are typical of spoken, informal French. In written or formal contexts you’d use the full form “Tu as fait quoi…?” or replace quoi with “que”. Also, avoid this phrase with strangers or in professional emails; stick to more neutral forms like “Qu'avez‑vous fait récemment ?”.