Comment ça va?
everyday
In Canadian French you ask Comment ça va? to find out how someone is. Friends shorten it to Ça va? With someone you should address formally, use Comment allez-vous?
Meaning: asking about well-being (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Comment ça va? | everyday |
| ça va? | informal |
| comment allez-vous? | formal |
The usual answer is Ça va bien, et toi? Comment ça va? is fine with almost everyone, formal or not.
Which one should you use?
Comment allez-vous? is polite and a little formal. In Quebec many people use tu quickly, even with new acquaintances, so Comment vas-tu? is also common.
How do you pronounce it?
Ça va sounds like "sah vah".
Did you know?
- The reply Ça va is both a question and an answer, so two neighbors can greet each other with nothing more than Ça va? and Ça va.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va?Hi, how are you?
- Ça va bien, merci. Et toi?I am fine, thank you. And you?
- Comment allez-vous, monsieur Roy?How are you, Mr. Roy?
Example conversation
Anne meets her neighbor Jean-François in the hallway of their building in Montreal.
- AnneBonjour, Jean-François. Comment ça va?Hello, Jean-François. How are you?
- Jean-FrançoisÇa va bien, et toi?Fine, and you?
- AnneTrès bien, merci.Very well, thanks.
