What does it mean word for word?
The part comment ça va ? literally translates to "how is it going?", where ça means "it".
Which one should you use?
The choice of greeting and follow-up question changes depending on the situation. You might use the more formal Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? for strangers or superiors, while in casual settings with friends or family, the much more common way to say this is Salut, ça va ?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase Bonjour, comment ça va ? uses Bonjour, which is a common formal greeting meaning "Hello" or "Good day". Other formal options include Bonsoir for "Good evening". In contrast, for casual interactions, you can use Salut for "Hi" or "Hey" or the playful and affectionate Coucou which means "Hey there".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase comment ça va ?, the word ça acts as a neutral subject, which makes the question about the general state of things rather than a direct inquiry into the person's identity.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you Comment ça va ?, a standard response is Ça va bien, merci (It's going well, thank you) or simply Ça va (It's going/Fine).
Did you know?
- In French culture, failing to say Bonjour before asking a question or requesting a service in a shop can be seen as a significant social slight or even rude.
- While Salut is used as a casual 'hi', it can also be used to say 'bye', making it a rare greeting that works for both arriving and leaving.
- The word va in comment ça va ? comes from the Latin vādō, which means 'to walk' or 'to go'.
Examples in context
- Bonsoir, comment allez-vous?Good evening, how are you?
- Salut, ça va?Hi, how are you?
- Coucou, comment ça va?Hey there, how are you?
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan meet at a cafe.
- LéaBonjour, comment ça va ?Hello, how are you doing?
- NathanÇa va très bien, merci !I am doing very well, thank you!
- LéaJe suis contente de te voir.I am happy to see you.
- NathanMoi aussi, Léa !Me too, Léa!
