馃嚝馃嚪 French phrases

How to Say "What does this mean?" in French

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Que signifie cela ?
"What does this mean?" in French 路 say it like kuh see-nee-feh sah-lah

The most natural way to say "What does this mean?" in French is Que signifie cela ?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Qu'est-ce que 莽a veut dire ?
More casual and commonly used in spoken French.
Que veut dire cela ?
A slightly more formal variant.

When to use it

You can use this phrase when you encounter something unclear, like a word or a situation. It is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. Use it when asking for clarification in conversations or when reading something you do not understand.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "What does this mean?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in French

FrenchEnglish
Je ne comprends pas. Que signifie cela ?I don't understand. What does this mean?
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 'signifie' with 'signaler', which means to signal or indicate.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Que signifie cela ?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking French with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this phrase in a formal email?

Yes, it's appropriate to use in formal emails when asking for clarification.

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