Comment ça va ?
The English phrase "how is it going?" can be translated into French as Comment ça va ?
Comment ça va ? is an informal greeting used to ask someone how they are doing. When someone asks you this, a common response is Ça va. to indicate that things are fine, or Ça va bien to mean "I'm doing well".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of Comment (how), ça (it/that) and va (goes/is going).
Which one should you use?
While Comment ça va ? is used in informal settings, the formal version used with strangers or superiors is Comment allez-vous ? Additionally, Ça va ? serves as a more casual way to ask the same question.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France and Belgium, the informal variation Comment ça roule ? is used. In Parisian slang, you may also hear the informal Comment ça gaze ?
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual conversation, you can shorten the phrase to just Ça va ?
Did you know?
- The verb va in this phrase comes from the Latin 'vādō', which is also the ancestor of the English word 'wade'.
- Using Comment allez-vous ? with a close friend can sometimes be perceived as cold or sarcastic because it is so formal.
- The phrase Ça va ? is uniquely versatile because it can be a question, an answer and a conversation starter all on its own.
Examples in context
- Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how is it going?
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel run into each other on the street.
- EmmaSalut Gabriel, comment ça va ?Hi Gabriel, how is it going?
- GabrielÇa va très bien, merci !It is going very well, thanks!
- EmmaJe suis contente pour toi.I am happy for you.
- GabrielEt toi, comment ça va ?And you, how is it going?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, va, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
