que voulez-vous
/kə ˌvuːleɪ ˈvuː/exclamation
Expressing mild exasperation or resignation: ‘what do you expect?’, ‘what can one expect?’.
- Frequently in representations of the English of a French speaker, or in French contexts..
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Thackeray (1811–1863), novelist. From French que voulez-vous, lit. ‘what do you want?’ from que (interrogative pronoun) what + voulez, 2nd person plural of vouloir to wish, want + vous you (plural).