Tout va bien
The English phrase "all is good" is translated into French as Tout va bien.
Tout va bien is used to express that everything is going well or that there are no problems. You can also use Ça va to convey that everything is good or okay.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Tout va bien means "Everything goes well".
Which one should you use?
While you might be tempted to say Tout est bon, this is usually reserved for describing food or a specific item. Tout va bien is the standard way to state that a situation or life in general is going well. For a more casual or slang approach, you can use Ça roule to mean everything is going smoothly.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Tout va bien, the word tout is a singular pronoun, which requires the verb va to be in the third-person singular form.
When do people say it?
Tout va bien is a common response to the question Comment ça va? (How is it going?). In such cases, you can respond with Tout va bien or simply Ça va.
Did you know?
- The verb in Tout va bien comes from the Latin 'vādō', which is the ancestor of the English verb 'to wend', as in 'to wend one's way'.
- In France, Ça va is so versatile that it can be both the question 'Are you okay?' and the answer 'I am okay' in the same conversation.
- Using Tout va bien in a sarcastic tone is a common way for French speakers to signal that things are actually going very poorly.
Examples in context
- Tout va bien.All is good.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase Tout va bien.Tatoeba #9336 by sacredceltic, translation #2195623 by dafp
- Tout va très bienEverything is going very well
- Tout est parfaitement en ordreEverything is perfectly in order
- Ça va super bienIt's going really well
- Ne t'inquiète pas, tout va bien.Don't worry, everything is going well.
- Merci de demander, tout va bien.Thanks for asking, everything is fine.
Example conversation
Two friends are catching up over coffee.
- LucasAlors, comment se passe ton nouveau travail ?So, how is your new job going?
- ChloéTout va bien, je suis très contente.Everything is good, I am very happy.
- LucasC'est super, je suis content pour toi.That's great, I am happy for you.
- ChloéMerci, c'est vraiment gentil.Thanks, that's really kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, tout, va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
