comment allez-vous ?
The English phrase 'how are you? (formal)' is translated into French as comment allez-vous ?
comment allez-vous ? is the standard way to say 'How are you?' in a formal context. You can also use the slightly more formal expression comment vous portez-vous? to mean 'How are you doing?' or 'How are you faring?'
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of comment (how), allez (go/are going) and vous (you), literally meaning 'how are you going?'
Which one should you use?
While comment allez-vous ? is a full, polite question, ça va ? is a much more casual and common way to ask 'how's it going?'
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb allez is the second-person plural conjugation of aller (to go), which is used here to express a state of being.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you comment allez-vous ?, a standard polite response is Je vais bien, merci followed by Et vous ? to return the question.
Did you know?
- Using comment allez-vous ? with a close friend or family member can be interpreted as sarcasm or a sign that you are suddenly creating emotional distance.
- The phrase comment vous portez-vous ? uses the verb porter, which means 'to carry'. It suggests the person is carrying themselves in a certain state of health.
- In formal settings the question often works as part of the greeting, so the speaker is not expecting a detailed report on your health.
Examples in context
- Bonjour Monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Hello Sir, how are you?
Example conversation
Lucas meets his former teacher, Manon, in a hallway.
- LucasBonjour Madame, comment allez-vous ?Hello Madam, how are you?
- ManonJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
- LucasJe suis ravi de vous voir.I am delighted to see you.
- ManonMoi aussi, Lucas.Me too, Lucas.
