Saying how is it that you know French

Question

How would you say: "How is it that you know French?"

Comment est-il que tu sais le français?

Merci à tous.

jlliagre · Accepted Answer · 2020-01-05 11:23:28Z

5

An idiomatic, casual way would be:

Comment ça se fait que tu parles/comprends/lis le français ?

One century ago, you might have heard :

Comment se fait-il que tu saches le français ?

It would be still understood but this form is outdated or at least very literary.

If you insist to use savoir, that can be:

Comment ça se fait que tu sais parler français ?

answered Jan 5, 2020 at 11:04

jlliagre

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Merci. Vous n'ajoutez pas le verbe savoir dans ce context?
– Cantor
Jan 5, 2020 at 11:09
Answer updated.
– jlliagre
Jan 5, 2020 at 11:23
Simplement, et utilisable aujourd'hui : "Comment se fait-il que tu parles/connaisses le Français" marche aussi.
– MakorDal
Jan 6, 2020 at 11:13
2

Rectification on the use of "Comment se fait-il que...": this is still very much used in middle-to-higher social categories and formal contexts. Personally, I use it just as frequently as "Comment ça se fait", and I'm neither 100 years old nor speaking like Balzac :)
– ledebutant
Jan 7, 2020 at 8:38

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