Stop Saying “Quoi?” — 10 Smarter French Alternatives

A French person is talking to you, but you can’t quite hear them or follow what they’re saying. So what do you say instead of “Quoi?” In French, this little word is considered casual, even rude — especially at work or with someone you don’t know well. 

Every French kid has heard their parents say this classic phrase: “On ne dit pas « quoi », on dit « comment » !”(We don’t say “quoi”, we say “comment”!)

Good news! There are 10 simple alternatives to “quoi?” that will help you respond naturally when you haven’t understood. I’ll walk you through them in this article, broken down by situation.

Situation 1: You didn’t hear what was said

You didn’t quite hear what the person said — the words weren’t clear (they spoke too softly, too fast, or there was background noise). Here’s what to use:

1. Pardon? — the safest bet. Polite, neutral, and works in 90% of situations.
2. Comment? — the classic alternative.
3. Excusez-moi, je n’ai pas bien entendu. (Sorry, I didn’t quite hear that.) — use this when you want to be very polite (doctor, boss, a stranger on the street).
4. Tu peux répéter ? / Vous pouvez répéter ? (Can you repeat that?) — simple and direct.
5. Désolé, tu peux parler un peu plus fort ? (Sorry, can you speak a bit louder?) — a relaxed option for friends or close colleagues.

Situation 2: You heard, but you didn’t get the meaning

You heard the words clearly, but you didn’t understand what the person actually meant. This time, it’s not about sound — it’s about meaning. It can happen with an unfamiliar word, a tricky turn of phrase, or a cultural reference. Asking someone to repeat the same thing won’t help; what you need is a rephrasing:

1. Désolé, je n’ai pas compris. (Sorry, I didn’t understand.) — the simplest version, clear and honest.
2. C’est-à-dire ? (What do you mean?) — super common in French. Short and to the point.
3. Qu’est-ce que tu veux dire ? / Que voulez-vous dire ? (What do you mean?) — when you want the person to clarify what they mean.
4. Tu peux reformuler ? / Pouvez-vous reformuler ? (Can you rephrase that?) — perfect in a meeting or with a teacher.
5. Tu peux m’expliquer autrement ? (Can you explain it another way?) — great if it’s a word or expression you don’t know.

Quick tip: to choose the right phrase, always ask yourself this simple question: did I not hear what was said, or did I not understand what it means? The answer will tell you which alternative to use.

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Lost in the whole conversation? Here’s what to say

Sometimes it’s not one sentence that trips you up — it’s the entire conversation moving too fast. French people tend to speak quickly, use slang, or throw in idiomatic expressions you haven’t necessarily learned yet. When that happens, just be honest: French people appreciate someone who asks for help far more than someone who pretends to follow along.

One more thing: never pretend to have understood. We’re often tempted to nod along to avoid the hassle, but the conversation quickly becomes awkward. Even worse — if the person asks you a question right after, you’re completely stuck. It’s much better to ask someone to repeat or explain two or three times than to stay in the dark. 

Trust me: French people always notice when someone hasn’t understood.

You can simply say:

• Tu parles un peu vite pour moi, tu peux ralentir s’il te plaît ? (You’re speaking a bit fast for me — can you slow down?)
• Désolé, je n’ai pas bien compris, tu peux répéter plus lentement ? (Sorry, I didn’t quite understand — can you repeat that more slowly?)
• Excuse-moi, je n’ai pas tout suivi, tu peux reformuler ? (Excuse me, I didn’t follow everything — can you rephrase?)

If you often struggle to keep up with conversations, don’t miss my 5 ways to improve your French listening comprehension.

To stop saying “quoi?” once and for all, remember these three reflexes: use “Pardon?” or “Comment?” when you didn’t hear, ask “C’est-à-dire?” or “Tu peux reformuler?” when you’re not sure what they mean, and don’t hesitate to ask people to slow down when the conversation is moving too fast.

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