What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to 'how goes the family?' because the verb va is the third-person singular of aller (to go).
Which one should you use?
While comment va la famille ? refers to 'the family' in general, you can use other forms depending on your relationship with the person. For example, Comment va votre famille ? asks 'How is your family?' more directly, while Comment vont les tiens ? is an informal way to ask 'How are your loved ones?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be formal, use Comment va votre famille ? In informal settings, you can use Comment va ta famille ? to ask 'How is your family?' or Et ta famille, ça va ? which means 'And your family, is everything okay?' In casual conversation, speakers often drop the word 'comment' entirely and simply say Ça va, la famille ? to mean 'Is the family doing okay?'
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions of France, you may hear the expression Comment ça va chez les tiens ?, which means 'How are things going with your loved ones?'
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb must agree with the subject. If you change the subject from the singular la famille to the plural les membres de la famille, the verb must change from va to vont.
When do people say it?
When answering this question, a common response is Elle va bien, merci (She/It is doing well, thank you), because la famille is a feminine singular noun and is often referred back to using the feminine pronoun elle.
Did you know?
- The word famille descends from the Latin 'familia', which originally referred to the entire household including servants and slaves rather than just blood relatives.
- In very casual urban French, la famille is often used as a slang term for a close-knit group of friends who are like brothers or sisters.
Examples in context
- Salut Marc ! Comment va la famille ?Hi Marc! How is the family?
- Salut, comment va la famille ?Hi, how is the family?
- Dis-moi, comment va la famille ?Tell me, how is the family?
Example conversation
Two friends meet for coffee in a café.
- ChloéSalut Hugo, comment va la famille ?Hi Hugo, how is the family?
- HugoTout le monde va bien, merci Chloé.Everyone is doing well, thanks Chloé.
- ChloéC'est super, je suis ravie pour vous.That's great, I'm happy for you all.
- HugoEt toi, comment vont tes parents ?And you, how are your parents?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, famille, la, va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
