French Phrase
Tu fais du sport ?
Meaning
This is a common way to ask someone if they exercise or participate in any athletic activities. It uses the verb 'faire' (to do/make) followed by the partitive article 'du', which is standard in French for general activities.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings when getting to know someone or discussing lifestyle habits. It is informal due to the use of 'tu' and the rising intonation for the question.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tufaisdusport?
Faire (fais)
The verb 'faire' is one of the most versatile verbs in French, meaning both 'to do' and 'to make'.
Partitive Article (du)
The word 'du' is a contraction of 'de' and 'le', used here to indicate an unspecified amount of an activity.
🗨In Conversation
Tu fais du sport ?
Do you do sports?
Oui, je fais du tennis deux fois par semaine.
Yes, I play tennis twice a week.
✕Common Mistakes
Tu joues du sport ?
While 'jouer' is used for specific ball games like 'jouer au foot', 'faire' is the correct verb for the general concept of doing sports.
Tu fais le sport ?
Use the partitive article 'du' (de + le) instead of the definite article 'le' when talking about doing sports in general.
↔Alternatives
Est-ce que tu fais du sport ?
Do you do sports? (Standard question form)
Tu es sportif ?
Are you athletic?
Vous faites du sport ?
Do you do sports? (Formal/Plural)
Cultural Tip
In France, 'le sport' is a broad term that includes everything from gym workouts to hiking and cycling. It is a very common icebreaker during social gatherings or at work during coffee breaks.