c'est comment ?
To say how is it? In French, use c'est comment ?
c'est comment ? asks for a description or opinion of an experience, a place or an object, such as how a movie or the weather is.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is made of ce, meaning it or this, est, meaning is and comment, meaning how. Literally it says it is how?
Which one should you use?
c'est comment ? asks for a description of a thing, while comment ça va ? asks about someone's well-being or how a situation is going.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
c'est comment ? is mainly used in casual, spoken French.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes say comment est ? and forget the subject ce. Say c'est comment ? instead.
Did you know?
- In various Francophone regions of Africa and in France, c'est comment ? has evolved into a slang greeting equivalent to 'what's up?'
- In casual spoken French, you can use the single word comment ? with a rising intonation to mean 'pardon?' or 'what?' when you didn't hear someone.
- Depending on the speaker's tone, c'est comment ? can be used sarcastically to imply that something is obviously poor in quality.
Examples in context
- Tu as goûté le plat, c'est comment ?You tasted the dish, how is it?
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are talking about a book Chloé just finished.
- NathanTu as fini le livre, Chloé ?Did you finish the book, Chloé?
- ChloéOui, je viens de le terminer.Yes, I just finished it.
- NathanC'est comment ?How is it?
- ChloéC'est vraiment passionnant !It is really exciting!
