How do you say "What's wrong?" in French?

"What's wrong?" in French is "Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?". This phrase is commonly used in France.

❓⚠️

How to Say ‘What's wrong?’ in French

Q: What does "Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?" mean in English?

"Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?" means "What's wrong?" in English. Usage tip: [Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?] is a fixed way to ask what's wrong, not literally about [going]. You can also hear the shorter [Ça ne va pas ?] in everyday speech.

Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?

k eh suh kee nuh vah pah

[k eh suh kee nuh vah pah]

💬 Usage Tip: [Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?] is a fixed way to ask what's wrong, not literally about [going]. You can also hear the shorter [Ça ne va pas ?] in everyday speech.

Phrase Breakdown

Qu'est-ce qui

k eh suh kee

What is it that / What

This introduces the question in a natural French way, often equivalent to what is wrong?

Example

Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

What is happening?

Words in this phrase

Qu'

[k]

what

Introduces a question asking what the problem is.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui vous dérange le plus ?

What is bothering you the most?

est

[eh]

Form of the verb être in a question.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui est nouveau depuis hier ?

What is new since yesterday?

-ce

[suh]

Part of the fixed question expression qu'est-ce qui.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui explique cette douleur ?

What explains this pain?

qui

[kee]

that

Relative pronoun in the structure meaning what is it that.

Example

Qu'est-ce qui vous aide à dormir ?

What helps you sleep?

Ne va pas

nuh vah pah

Is not going right / Is wrong

Used in the expression ne pas aller to mean to be wrong or not okay.

Example

Quelque chose ne va pas.

Something is wrong.

Words in this phrase

[nuh]

not

Negative word used before the verb.

Example

Rien ne change vraiment.

Nothing really changes.

[vah]

goes

In this phrase, means goes or is going.

Example

Ça va un peu mieux maintenant.

It's going a bit better now.

pas

[pah]

not

Completes the negative meaning of the phrase.

Example

La douleur ne part pas rapidement.

The pain does not go away quickly.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer