What's Happening with Qu'est-ce qui?

In a previous lesson, we learned that it is common to start a question with qu'est-ce qui to find out “what is going on" or "what’s happening.” You can use handy phrases such as Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? (What's going on?) or Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ? (What's wrong?) to inquire about general situations, or phrases like Qu’est-ce qu’il t’arrive ? (What’s happening to you?) to ask about one person in particular. Let’s explore the various ways these questions can be used.

When asking about a situation that does not involve a specific person, you can use the phrase Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? In this video about rainy weather in Paris, Alexandre asks what happens when someone forgets their umbrella:

Et qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

And what happens?

Caption 85, Sophie et Alexandre Et la pluie ?

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In a different context, though, when asking about a specific situation that's happening right now, qu’est-ce qui se passe translates as “what’s going on” or "what's happening." Note how the English uses the present progressive tense here, a tense that does not exist in French: 

Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?

What's going on?

Caption 18, Extr@ Ep. 6 - Le jour du loto - Part 4

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If the same question is loaded with concern, as when asking about a friend's health, qu’est-ce qui se passe is better translated as “what’s wrong": 

Qu'est-ce qu'il se passe ? Tu n'as pas l'air bien. Explique-moi.

What's wrong? You don't look good. Explain it to me.

Captions 34-35, Français avec Nelly 25 Phrases for Mastering Everyday Conversation - Part 1

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Note that Nelly uses the slightly more formal qu'est-ce qu'il se passe (Qu'est-ce que + il se passe) here. This is also correct, since il se passe is an impersonal expression.

Instead of saying qu’est-ce qui se passe or qu'est-ce qu'il se passe, you can use the equivalent phrase qu’est-ce qu’il y a ("what’s the matter," literally "what is there"):

Qu'est-ce qu'il y a, Annie ?

What's the matter, Annie?

Caption 24, Extr@ Ep. 7 - La jumelle - Part 7

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Just as with qu’est-ce qui se passe, qu’est-ce qu’il y a can also mean “what’s wrong” when expressing worry or concern:

Mais qu'est-ce qu'il y a ?

But what's wrong?

Caption 15, Le Jour où tout a basculé Mes grands-parents sont infidèles - Part 7

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The speaker in the above video immediately follows up her question with another one:

Qu'est-ce qu'il t'arrive ?

What's happening to you?

Caption 16, Le Jour où tout a basculé Mes grands-parents sont infidèles - Part 7

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This question, with the verb arriver (to happen), can only be used to ask after a specific person. Its structure is: qu’est-ce qui (or qu'est-ce qu'il) + indirect object pronoun + arriver.

Qu'est-ce qui t'arrive ?

What's the matter with you?

Caption 2, Sara et Lionel J'ai mal aux dents

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Qu'est-ce qui t'arrive ?

What's wrong?

Caption 67, Le Jour où tout a basculé Rivalité cachée - Part 5

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There is another question with a similar structure to qu’est-ce qui t’arrive, which is qu’est-ce qui te prend (what’s gotten into you). It works in the same way, requiring the indirect personal pronoun before the verb, but the meaning is slightly different. It’s the question you ask when you are surprised by someone’s behavior:

Mais enfin, qu'est-ce qui te prend?

But what's gotten into you?

Caption 72, Le Jour où tout a basculé À la recherche de mon passé - Part 5

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In conclusion, there are various ways of asking what’s happening in French. However, the same expressions in French can mean different things in English, so the translations can vary greatly. Pay attention to context, tone of voice, and background information when watching our Yabla videos. This will help you understand the different meanings behind the same questions. Thank you for reading!