French Conversation · Level 125
55 words
French word
quid
Pronunciation
IPA/kwid/
Meaning
- masculine nounessence
Example
Le quid du problème est difficile à saisir.
The essence of the problem is difficult to grasp.
More examples
Quel est le quid de cette affaire ?
What is the point of this affair?
Core concept
A debate has a hidden hinge on which the meaning of the whole matter turns.
Similar words
cœur: The central part that influences the direction or outcome of something.
fond: The underlying cause or nature beneath a matter's surface.
centre: The important point or part at the center of an event or issue.
clé: The decisive factor needed to understand or resolve something.
Definition in French
Ce qui constitue le point central ou l'essentiel d'une affaire, d'une question ou d'un problème.
Word origin
French formed this learned noun by borrowing the Latin interrogative quid, "what," and using it for the decisive substance of a matter.
Usage tips
- Quid sounds formal or literary in ordinary French, where l'essentiel or le cœur du problème is often more natural.