q

the letter Q

noun KEW Rare

Usage Note

Q as a standalone noun refers to the seventeenth letter of the French alphabet. In French, q is almost always followed by u (as in que, qui, quoi), and the digraph qu is pronounced /k/. The letter name is pronounced like English 'cue'. In informal spoken French, q (or cul) is also a vulgar term for buttocks, so context matters.

Examples

"Le mot 'quoi' commence par la lettre q."

Natural Translation

The word 'quoi' starts with the letter q.

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