French Phrase
Et ma poignée de main ?
Meaning
Literally, 'And my handshake?' It is a short, often playful question asking about the status or quality of the speaker’s handshake, typically after a greeting, a meeting, or when confirming that a handshake was exchanged.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to confirm that you have been greeted properly, when you’re joking about a missed handshake, or when you’re curious about how your handshake was received in a business or social setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Etmapoignéedemain?
Et (conjunction)
Used to add a new element or question to the previous statement, similar to 'and' in English.
ma (possessive adjective)
Agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here 'ma' matches the feminine noun 'poignée'.
poignée de main (idiom)
A fixed expression meaning 'handshake'. The noun 'poignée' (literally 'a handful') is feminine, and 'main' stays singular.
de (preposition)
Links the two nouns in the idiom, indicating the type of 'poignée'.
main (noun)
Means 'hand' and is feminine; in the idiom it stays singular even though a handshake involves two hands.
🗨In Conversation
Nous venons de conclure le contrat.
We just sealed the contract.
Et ma poignée de main ?
And my handshake?
✕Common Mistakes
Et ma poignée de mains ?
The noun 'poignée' is singular and already implies a single handshake; do not add an 's' to 'main'.
Et mon poignée de main ?
Because 'poignée' is feminine, the possessive must be 'ma', not 'mon'.
Et la ma poignée de main ?
Do not combine the article 'la' with the possessive 'ma'; choose one.
↔Alternatives
Et la poignée de main ?
And the handshake?
Qu'en est‑il de ma poignée de main ?
What about my handshake?
Ma poignée de main, alors ?
My handshake, then?
Cultural Tip
In French business and social etiquette, a firm but brief handshake is the standard greeting. Asking "Et ma poignée de main ?" can be humorous, implying you’re waiting for the other person to reciprocate or that you’re unsure if the handshake was proper. In formal settings, keep the tone light; in very formal meetings, it’s better to simply offer the handshake without commenting on it.