Learn French: Combien de tranches de jambon est-ce que vous prenez ?

When using combien to mean 'how much' or 'how many', it is always followed by de (or d' before a vowel), never by the plural des. Even though tranches is plural, the phrase is locked as combien de.

Why is it tranches de jambon and not tranches du jambon?

When expressing a quantity of something (like 'a slice of' or 'a bottle of'), you just use de without the definite article (le, la, or les). So 'slices of ham' is tranches de jambon.

What exactly does est-ce que do in this sentence?

The phrase est-ce que acts as a question marker, similar to the word 'are' in the English translation 'are you taking'. Placing it after the question phrase Combien de tranches de jambon lets you keep the subject and verb in their normal order (vous prenez) instead of reversing them.

Could I put combien de at the end of the sentence instead?

Yes! In everyday spoken French, it is very common to put the question phrase at the end. You can say Vous prenez combien de tranches de jambon ? which is perfectly correct and a bit more informal.

Does mean 'you take' or 'you are taking'?