French Phrase
C'est un gros problème ?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether something constitutes a serious or sizable issue. The adjective "gros" adds emphasis, suggesting the problem could be large in scope, impact, or difficulty.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to confirm the seriousness of a situation—whether in a work meeting, a casual chat about travel plans, or while discussing a personal dilemma. It works in both informal and semi‑formal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estungrosproblème?
C'est
Contraction of "cela est" meaning "it is"; used for identification or description.
un
Indefinite article for masculine singular nouns.
gros
Adjective meaning "big" or "significant"; agrees in gender and number with the noun.
problème
Masculine noun meaning "problem"; note the grave accent on the e.
Question formation
A simple yes‑no question can be made by raising intonation at the end; alternatively use "Est‑ce que" or "Est‑ce".
🗨In Conversation
Je ne sais pas si je dois annuler le voyage à cause de la grève.
I don't know if I should cancel the trip because of the strike.
C'est un gros problème ?
Is it a big problem?
✕Common Mistakes
C'est un grand problème ?
"Grand" describes physical size or stature; "gros" is the natural adjective for a significant problem.
C'est un gros problème ? (pronounced /sɛ.t un/)
The liaison is often omitted by beginners; the correct pronunciation links the /t/ to the following vowel.
Est un gros problème ?
The interrogative particle "ce" is required; "Est‑ce" is the proper form.
↔Alternatives
Est‑ce un gros problème ?
Is it a big problem?
Est‑ce que c'est un problème important ?
Is it an important problem?
C'est un problème sérieux ?
Is it a serious problem?
Cultural Tip
In French, "gros" is the idiomatic way to stress the magnitude of an issue; "grand" would sound odd here. For very formal situations, you might prefer "important" or "sérieux". Remember the liaison between "C'est" and "un"—the /t/ sound links to the vowel, giving /sɛ.t‿œ̃/. Also, while rising intonation alone can turn a statement into a question, using "Est‑ce que" adds clarity, especially in spoken practice.