French word

comment

Pronunciation

IPA/komɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbhow

Example

Tu sais comment réparer ça ?

Do you know how to fix that?

Illustration for comment (how)

More examples

Demande-lui comment on dit ça en anglais.

Ask him how to say that in English.

Core concept

A spotlight on the method or means used to make something happen.

Common phrases

  • comment on dit

    how to say it

Similar words

comment est-ce que: An informal question form for asking how something is done.
de quelle façon: A phrase asking about the way something is done.
de quelle manière: A phrase asking about the manner in which something is done.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour demander le procédé, la façon ou les moyens par lesquels quelque chose se fait.

Word origin

French comment comes from Latin quomodo, meaning 'in what way', through Old French forms such as coment.

Usage tips

  • In a question, comment asks about method, whereas pourquoi asks about reason.

Related words

Word lists with this word