How to Say "How Was Paris" in French

c'était comment Paris ?

The English phrase "how was paris" can be translated into French as c'était comment Paris ?

This phrase is a question used to ask someone about their experience or impressions of a trip to Paris. A colloquial version often includes the word Alors at the beginning: Alors, c'était comment Paris ? (So, how was Paris?).

Which one should you use?

The forms differ primarily by register. Comment était Paris ? is a grammatically standard and formal way to ask the question, whereas c'était comment Paris ? is more informal and common in everyday conversation. More elaborate formal options include Comment s'est passée votre expérience à Paris ? (How was your experience in Paris?) or Comment s'est déroulé votre séjour à Paris ? (How did your stay go in Paris?). For an informal tone, you can use Comment s'est passé ton séjour à Paris ? (How was your stay in Paris?).

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

C'était comment Paris ? is an informal, colloquial way to ask the question in everyday conversation. For more formal or standard situations, use Comment était Paris ?, Comment s'est passée votre expérience à Paris ? or Comment s'est déroulé votre séjour à Paris ? If you are speaking to someone you know well, the informal Comment s'est passé ton séjour à Paris ? is appropriate.

Is it said differently in some regions?

In Quebec, you might hear the phrase Comment ça s'est passé ton voyage à Paris ? to mean "How was your trip to Paris?"

How does it change in a sentence?

In spoken French, it is common to add a comma before the subject Paris when it follows the adjective comment, resulting in C'était comment, Paris ?

Did you know?

The informal phrasing C'était comment, Paris ? uses a linguistic technique called dislocation, where the subject is shifted to the end of the sentence to create a specific emotional emphasis.
The name Paris comes from the Parisii, a Celtic Gaulish tribe that lived on the banks of the Seine long before the city became the capital of France.
In French, asking C'était comment ? is often a social cue for the speaker to tell a detailed story, while C'était bien ? is a closed question that typically expects a simple 'yes' or 'no'.

Examples in context

Dis-moi, c'était comment Paris ?
Tell me, how was Paris?

Example conversation

Chloé and Hugo are catching up at a café.

Chloé

Salut Hugo ! C'était comment Paris ?
Hi Hugo! How was Paris?
Hugo

C'était génial, j'ai adoré la ville.
It was great, I loved the city.
Chloé

Tu as bien profité de ton voyage ?
Did you enjoy your trip?
Hugo

Oui, c'était un voyage magnifique.
Yes, it was a magnificent trip.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries Paris, comment, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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How to Say “How Was Paris” in French