je vais bien
The English phrase "I am doing good" can be expressed in French as je vais bien.
The phrase je vais bien is a response used to say that you are healthy and happy when someone asks how you are.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I am going well" because it uses the verb aller (to go) instead of être (to be).
Which one should you use?
While je vais bien focuses on your personal state, ça va bien is a more general way to say "it is going well".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase ça va is a common, informal way to both ask "how are you?" and respond with "I'm fine".
How does it change in a sentence?
To add emphasis, you can insert très (very) between the verb and the adverb to say "I am doing very well" (je vais très bien).
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say je suis bien to mean "I am doing well", but in French, je suis bien usually refers to being physically comfortable or feeling at ease in a setting.
Did you know?
- Using je suis bien instead of je vais bien can accidentally tell someone you are sexually aroused or incredibly cozy in a blanket.
- In some regions, people avoid je vais bien and instead use ça gaze, a slang expression from the mid-20th century meaning things are going great.
- In very formal or old-fashioned French, one might say je me porte bien, which literally means 'I carry myself well'.
Examples in context
- Je vais bien, merci.I am doing well, thank you.
- Tout va bien, merci.Everything is going well, thank you.
- Ça va bien, merci.I am doing well, thanks.
- Je vais bien, merci. Et toi ?I am doing well, thank you. And you?
- Ça va aussi.I am doing well too.
- Salut !Hi!
- Comment ça roule ?How's it going?
- Tout va bien de mon côté.Everything is going well on my side.
- Ne t'inquiète pas, je vais bien.Don't worry, I am doing fine.
- Heureusement, je vais bien aujourd'hui.Fortunately, I am doing well today.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon meet at a cafe.
- GabrielSalut Manon, comment vas-tu ?Hi Manon, how are you doing?
- ManonJe vais bien, et toi ?I am doing good, and you?
- GabrielJe vais très bien aussi.I am doing very well too.
- ManonC'est super !That's great!
