Quel/quelle/quels/quelles + [nom] = What a [noun] (French Exclamative Adjectives)

You've already learnt how to use "quel/quelle/quels/quelles" to ask questions (See Quel/quels/quelle/quelles ? = Which/what? (French Question Words)"Quel/quelle etc." can also be used with nouns.

Learn how to use "quel/quelle/quels/quelles" with nouns in French

Look at these exclamations:

Quelle bonne idée !What a good idea!

Quel cadeau extraordinaire !What an amazing gift!

Quelles excuses minables !What lousy excuses!

Quels beaux enfants !What beautiful children!

To express an exclamation starting with what a + [noun] in French, you will use the exclamative adjective quel + [nom].

Also note that quel agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to: quel, quelle, quels, quelles.

ATTENTION:
You never use an article after quel:

Quel un beau matin !

ATTENTION:

Quel + [noun] can also be used in a question to mean Which [thing]?. The only way to distinguish the two uses is context: you wouldn't say Which beautiful dress !
See also Quel/quels/quelle/quelles ? = Which/what? (French Question Words) 

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Examples and resources

Mon frère ? Quel mauvais joueur !My brother? What a sore loser!
Quelle belle soirée !What a lovely evening!
Quelle surprise !What a surprise!
Quel cadeau extraordinaire !What an amazing gift!
Quelles excuses minables !What lousy excuses!
Quels beaux enfants !What beautiful children!
Quelle bonne idée !What a good idea!
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