What does ce que in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word ce que in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use ce que in French.

The word ce que in French means what, how, as far as I know, as far as I know, as far as I can see, as far as I can tell, it is said that, for what it's worth, in such a way that, so that, ask that, say what everyone else is thinking, say out loud what everyone else is thinking, inasmuch as, according to what…, do, does, Is there any point in doing ?, be careful to ensure , take care to ensure, do whatever you want, do whatever you like, Do what I say, not what I do, until, till death do us part, till death us do part, until you die, to death, until dead, serve you right, if only, even if only, no one knows what the future holds, You reap what you sow, for what it's worth, What is it?, That's lovely!, What is this?, Where are your manners?, How's it going?, How's it looking?, How's it coming along?, It's tipping down!, It's bucketing down!, It's pouring down!, It's chucking it down!, What can I get you?, What's up with you?, What are you doing?, What do you think?, What would you know about it?, What are you doing?, What are you up to?, Have you been doing anything interesting?, What are you talking about?, Why are you telling me?, what do you think of that?, Who ...?, for all legal intents and purposes, with all rights and privileges thereto pertaining. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word ce que

what

pronom (antécédent de pronom objet)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Ce que je désire le plus au monde, c'est de trouver la paix intérieure.
What I want the most in the world is to find inner peace.

how

(renforce une critique) (dated)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Ce que cette gamine peut être agaçante quand elle s'y met ! Ce que tu peux être impatient ! Voilà ton cadeau.
That girl can be really irritating when she wants to be!

as far as I know

(à ma connaissance)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
À ce que je sache, il travaille toujours à Londres.

as far as I know

(d'après mes informations)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
À ce que je sais, l'homme est parti par le train de 18h.
As far as I know, the man left on the 6 pm train.

as far as I can see, as far as I can tell

(visiblement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
À ce que je vois, tu ne fais pas grand-chose.
It doesn't look to me like you're doing much.

it is said that

(selon, d'après ce qui est dit)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

for what it's worth

(c'est tout ce que je peux proposer)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je te suggère de peindre en jaune. Enfin, ça vaut ce que ça vaut.
For what it's worth, I think you should paint it yellow.

in such a way that, so that

locution conjonction (pour que)

Il faut battre la mayonnaise énergiquement, de manière à ce qu'elle ne retombe pas.

ask that

locution verbale (soutenu (demander que)

The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time.

say what everyone else is thinking, say out loud what everyone else is thinking

locution verbale (dire à haute voix ce que chacun pense)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Son tort est de dire tout haut ce que tout le monde pense tout bas.

inasmuch as

locution conjonction (littéraire (du fait que) (slightly formal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cet administrateur est exemplaire en ce qu'il fait toujours passer l'intérêt général en premier.

according to what…

locution conjonction (selon)

Depending on what the government does, we will take the appropriate action.

do, does

(introduction d'une question)

(auxiliary verb: Helping verb--for example, "She is running." "It has been lost.")
Est-ce que tu aimes le chocolat ? Est-ce que la nouvelle copine de Pierre est jolie ?
Is Peter's new girlfriend pretty?

Is there any point in doing ?

(cela a-t-il du sens)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Est-ce que ça rime à quelque chose de se disputer ainsi ?

be careful to ensure , take care to ensure

locution verbale (veiller à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle a fait attention à ce que la date limite ne soit pas dépassée.

do whatever you want, do whatever you like

(Je m'en fiche)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je n'ai pas d'idée pour le repas de ce soir. Fais ce que tu veux.

Do what I say, not what I do

(donner des conseils qu'on n'applique pas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le patron nous a dit de ne pas gaspiller le papier et là, il vient d'imprimer tous ses e-mails, qu'il a ensuite jetés à la poubelle sans les lire. Lui, c'est vraiment « faites ce que je dis, pas ce que je fais ».

until

locution conjonction (en attendant que)

(conjunction: Connects words, clauses, and sentences--for example, "and," "but," "because," "in order that.")
Tu resteras dans ta chambre jusqu’à ce que tu aies fait tes devoirs.
You'll stay in your room until you've done your homework.

till death do us part, till death us do part

(en attendant la séparation de la mort)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

until you die

(jusqu'à en mourir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Parle ! ou tu souffriras jusqu’à ce mort s'en suive.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Saint Stephen was a Christian martyr who was stoned to death.

to death, until dead

(jusqu'à la mort)

serve you right

locution verbale (mériter ce qui arrive)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

if only, even if only

locution adverbiale (même seulement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cette fan aurait donné tout ce qu'elle avait pour voir sa star préférée ne serait-ce qu'une seconde.

no one knows what the future holds

(on ne peut prédire son futur)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il est jeune plein de rêve et d'aventure mais nul ne sait ce que l'avenir nous réserve.

You reap what you sow

(nous récoltons le fruit de nos actions)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

for what it's worth

(c'est sans grande importance)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il m'a proposé son aide pour déménager. Pour ce que ça vaut.

What is it?

(Quel est le propos ?)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
On frappe à la porte. « Qu'est-ce que c'est ? »

That's lovely!

interjection (Comme c'est joli !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Qu'est-ce que c'est beau ! Tu as fait cela toi-même ?

What is this?

(Qu'est-ce donc ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça, dans la vitrine ?

Where are your manners?

(Non mais dis donc !)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
On ne met pas les pieds sur la table. Qu'est-ce que c'est que ces manières !

How's it going?, How's it looking?, How's it coming along?

(Comment se présentent les choses ?) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

It's tipping down!, It's bucketing down!, It's pouring down!, It's chucking it down!

(Il pleut fort !) (rain: informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

What can I get you?

(Que voulez-vous commander ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ? nous demanda le barman.

What's up with you?

(Tu sembles avoir un problème) (informal)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

What are you doing?

(Peux-tu me donner des nouvelles ?)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Il y a un moment que je ne t'ai vu. Qu'est-ce que tu deviens ?

What do you think?

(Quel es ton avis ?)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

What would you know about it?

(je doute que tu saches)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
- Tu verras, ta sœur se mariera avec Paul. - Qu'est-ce que tu en sais ?

What are you doing?

(Pourquoi fais-tu cela ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? Je t'ai dit de ranger ta chambre.

What are you up to?

(Qu'est-tu en train de faire ?) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
En rentrant dans ma chambre, ma mère m'a demandé : « Alors, qu'est-ce que tu fais de beau ? ». Et toi, tu fais quoi de beau à Paris ?

Have you been doing anything interesting?

(Que deviens-tu ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ça fait longtemps que je ne t'ai pas vu. Qu'est-ce que tu fais de beau maintenant ?

What are you talking about?

(Es-tu sûr de ce que tu dis ?)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

Why are you telling me?

(familier (je m'en fiche)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Théo a fini premier de sa promotion ? C'est bien mais qu'est-ce que tu veux que ça me fasse ?

what do you think of that?

(Qu'en pensez-vous ?)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Il l'a fait tout seul, qu'est-ce que vous dites de ça ?

Who ...?

(formule interrogative, qui)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Qui est-ce que tu as vu ?
Who was it you saw (or: that you saw)?

for all legal intents and purposes

locution verbale (littéraire (attester un droit) (law)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le présent certificat est établi pour faire valoir ce que de droit.

with all rights and privileges thereto pertaining

locution verbale (littéraire (attester et user d'un droit) (formal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Voici le certificat, en foi duquel je fais valoir et servir ce que de droit.
Here is the certificate, in witness whereof I assert all rights and privileges thereto pertaining.

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