Meaning
Used to ask for the French translation of a word or phrase.
Cultural Background
In France, it is very important to start with 'Pardon' or 'Bonjour' before asking 'Comment dit-on...'. Jumping straight into the question can be seen as rude. Quebecers are very proud of their language and might offer you a traditional French word even if an English loanword is common in France (e.g., 'courriel' instead of 'email'). In Francophone Africa, French is often used alongside local languages like Wolof. You might use this phrase to navigate between the two.
The 'On' Secret
Native speakers use 'on' for everything. Mastering 'Comment dit-on' makes you sound more natural than using 'Comment est-ce que tu dis'.
Don't forget the 'en'
Always say 'en français', not 'au français' or 'dans français'.
Meaning
Used to ask for the French translation of a word or phrase.
The 'On' Secret
Native speakers use 'on' for everything. Mastering 'Comment dit-on' makes you sound more natural than using 'Comment est-ce que tu dis'.
Don't forget the 'en'
Always say 'en français', not 'au français' or 'dans français'.
Test Yourself
Complete the phrase to ask for the translation of 'water'.
Comment _____-on 'water' en français ?
The subject is 'on', which requires the third-person singular form of 'dire' (to say).
Which of these is the most natural way to ask a teacher for a word?
Choose the best option:
This is the standard, polite, and complete neutral form.
Match the French phrase to its English meaning.
Match them:
Direct translation of the components.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Pardon, ________ 'butterfly' en français ? B: On dit 'papillon'.
The context of 'On dit' in the response confirms the question was about how to say something.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesComment _____-on 'water' en français ?
The subject is 'on', which requires the third-person singular form of 'dire' (to say).
Choose the best option:
This is the standard, polite, and complete neutral form.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Direct translation of the components.
A: Pardon, ________ 'butterfly' en français ? B: On dit 'papillon'.
The context of 'On dit' in the response confirms the question was about how to say something.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questionsYes, in spoken French, 'Comment on dit' is very common and slightly less formal than 'Comment dit-on'.
It is always 'en français'. You do not use the article 'le' after 'en' in this context.
Absolutely. You can say 'Comment dit-on [English sentence] en français ?'.
Then you should point and ask 'Qu'est-ce que c'est ?' (What is it?).
Yes, it is neutral. To be extra polite, add 's'il vous plaît' at the end.
In French, when you invert a verb and a subject pronoun to make a question, you must connect them with a hyphen.
Related Phrases
Que veut dire... ?
contrastWhat does ... mean?
Comment ça s'écrit ?
builds onHow is that written/spelled?
Comment ça se prononce ?
builds onHow is that pronounced?
