What does " de quoi " mean in French ?
Avoir + de quoi + verbe à l'infinitif = to have the means/the equipment to do something - Vous avez de quoi faire des lasagnes chez vous ? // Do you (plural or formal) have the ingredients to make lasagna at home ? Note : When talking about food, it will usually mean "do you have the ingredients to make...." but it might also refer to the equipment required, such as an oven/a wok... - T'as de quoi prendre des notes ? // Do you have something to take notes on/with ? - T'as de quoi payer sur toi ? // Do you have any money on you? You can also use this structure with other verbs like "acheter" (to buy) ou "prendre" (to bring) for example : - J'ai acheté de quoi faire des crêpes. // I bought the necessary ingredients to make some crêpes. Note 1 : It might also refer to a specific kind of pan used to make crêpes. Note 2 : Crêpes and pancakes are absolutely not the same thing and I refuse to use those words interchangeably. - J'ai pris de quoi lire. // I brought something to read with me. - J'ai pris de quoi manger. // I brought something to eat with me.
Avoir + de quoi + verbe à l'infinitif can also be translated as "to have enough (of something) to do something : - J'ai de quoi vivre confortablement pendant un an sans travailler // I have enough (money) to live comfortably for a year without working. - J'ai, dans mes placarts, de quoi manger pendant un mois. // I have, in my cupboards, enough (food) to eat for a month.
Other uses of "de quoi" -> À la suite de quoi = Whereupon -> Some verbs might require the use of "de quoi" in certain cases : - Il n'y a pas de quoi s'inquiéter. // There is nothing to worry about. - Il n'y a pas de quoi s'énerver. // There is nothing to get worked up about. - Je ne comprends pas de quoi on parle. // I don't understand what we are talking about. - Mais de quoi tu parles ? // What the hell are you talking about ? Note : Be careful with "mais" at the beginning of a question, it is the equivalent of "what the hell"/"what on earth" Mais qu'est ce que tu fais encore là ? // What the hell are you still doing here ?
