Indefinite relative pronouns (ce qui / ce que)

"What" as an Unspecified Idea

To say "what" in the sense of "the thing that" (like "what I like" or "what bothers me"), use ce qui or ce que to refer to a general idea or statement instead of a specific noun.

"Ce qui" (Subject)

Use ce qui when "what" is the subject of its clause (it performs the action).

Notice that when starting a sentence with ce qui for emphasis, the second half often introduces the specific thing with c'est (it is).

"Ce que" (Direct Object)

Use ce que when "what" is the direct object (someone or something else performs the action).

Connecting Ideas

You can also use ce qui and ce que without c'est to connect ideas, whether at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. This is very common when describing food, flavors, or personal preferences.