Learn French: Est-ce que c'est un régime végétalien ?

Est-ce que c'est un régime végétalien ?

Is it a vegan diet?

Breakdown of Est-ce que c'est un régime végétalien ?

être

to be

a / an (masculine)

it / this (with être)

est-ce que

is it that / do / does (question marker)

Questions & Answers about Est-ce que c'est un régime végétalien ?

Doesn't Est-ce que already mean 'is it'? Why add c'est?

Est-ce que is a fixed phrase used at the beginning of a sentence to turn it into a yes/no question. The actual statement is c'est un régime végétalien (it is a vegan diet). When you put them together, it literally translates to 'Is it that it is a vegan diet?', which is a perfectly normal way to ask questions in French!

Does régime mean 'regime' like a government?

It can, but in the context of food, un régime means a 'diet'. For example, if you are 'on a diet', you would say you are au régime.

What is the difference between végétalien and végétarien?

Végétarien means 'vegetarian' (no meat), while végétalien means 'vegan' (no animal products at all, like dairy or eggs). Because they sound so similar, they are very easy to mix up!

Why does the adjective end in -ien instead of -ienne?

Végétalien is describing un régime. Since un régime is a masculine word, the adjective stays in its masculine form, végétalien. If it were describing a feminine word, like a person (une personne), it would become végétalienne.