What does it mean word for word?
The phrase comment allez-vous ? literally translates to "how go you?"
Which one should you use?
Different forms are chosen based on your relationship with the person. Use comment allez-vous ? for formal situations, while comment vas-tu ? is the informal way to ask "how are you?" typically used with friends or family. For a more casual or colloquial tone, you can use ça va ? to ask "how's it going?" or "are you doing okay?" Other informal variations include comment tu vas? for "how are you doing?" and quoi de neuf? which means "what's new?" Finally, comment ça va? serves as a semi-formal or casual way to ask "how's it going?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Comment allez-vous ? and comment vous portez-vous? are formal ways to address someone. Comment ça va? is semi-formal or casual, whereas comment tu vas?, ça va? and quoi de neuf? are informal or colloquial expressions used in everyday situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form comment allez-vous ? uses the second-person plural verb conjugation. This makes it appropriate when addressing a group of people or when addressing a single person in a formal manner.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you comment allez-vous ?, a standard and polite response is Je vais bien, merci, which means "I am doing well, thank you."
Did you know?
- In some regions, answering ça va ? with pas mal meaning 'not bad' is often interpreted as a very positive response rather than a mediocre one.
- Depending on the social context, using vous in comment allez-vous ? with a spouse or partner can be a sign of extreme distance or a formal romantic style used in older literature.
- The word comment is formed by combining the word comme with the suffix -ment, which is used to create adverbs in French.
Examples in context
- Ça va bien. Et toi?I'm doing well, and you?
- Pas mal, merci!Not bad, thanks!
- Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?Hello, how are you?
- Monsieur, comment allez-vous ?Sir, how are you?
Example conversation
Nathan meets Manon in a formal professional setting.
- NathanBonjour Manon, comment allez-vous ?Hello Manon, how are you?
- ManonJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
- NathanJe suis ravi de l'entendre.I am delighted to hear that.
- ManonEt vous, comment allez-vous ?And you, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, CC BY-SA 4.0.
