French Phrase
Quels sont tes points faibles ?
Meaning
Literally, “What are your weak points?” It asks someone to identify the areas where they feel less competent or need improvement. The phrase is often used in professional settings such as job interviews, performance reviews, or self‑assessment exercises.
When to use
Use this question when you want to discuss personal or professional development, especially in a formal or semi‑formal context like a job interview, a classroom feedback session, or a coaching conversation. In casual conversation you might soften it or use a synonym to avoid sounding too direct.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quelssonttespointsfaibles?
Interrogative adjective "Quel(s)"
"Quel" changes to "Quels" (masc. plural) to agree with the noun "points" which is masculine plural.
Subject‑verb inversion
In formal questions, the verb "être" follows the interrogative adjective, forming "Quels sont..." without a separate question word.
Possessive adjective "tes"
"Tes" is the informal second‑person singular possessive, matching the plural noun "points".
Adjective placement
The adjective "faibles" follows the noun "points" (post‑nominal position) because it is a descriptive adjective.
🗨In Conversation
Quels sont tes points faibles ?
What are your weak points?
Je dirais que je manque de patience et que je suis parfois trop perfectionniste.
I would say I lack patience and sometimes I am too much of a perfectionist.
✕Common Mistakes
Quel sont tes points faibles ?
"Quel" must agree in number and gender with "points"; use the plural masculine form "Quels".
Quels est tes points faibles ?
The verb "être" must agree with the plural subject, so it should be "sont" not "est".
Quels sont vos point faibles ?
Both the noun and the adjective need to be plural: "points faibles".
Quels sont tes faibles points ?
While grammatically possible, the natural order is noun + adjective: "points faibles".
↔Alternatives
Quelles sont tes faiblesses ?
What are your weaknesses?
Quelles sont tes limites ?
What are your limits?
Quelles sont les choses que tu aimerais améliorer ?
What are the things you would like to improve?
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking workplaces, directly pointing out weaknesses can be seen as too blunt. It’s common to frame the answer as "areas for improvement" and to follow up with concrete steps you’re taking to develop those skills. In a formal interview, using the polite "vous" form – "Quels sont vos points faibles ?" – is preferred unless the interlocutor has explicitly invited the informal "tu".