Comme ci, comme ça
The phrase "I am so-so" in French is expressed as Comme ci, comme ça.
Comme ci, comme ça is used to express that a situation or your personal state of being is mediocre, indifferent or neither good nor bad.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "like this, like that".
Which one should you use?
While Comme ci, comme ça implies a neutral or slightly underwhelming state, the phrase Pas mal is often used to mean "quite good" in a modest way.
Did you know?
- In France, you can express a 'so-so' feeling by simply shrugging your shoulders and making a slight kissing motion with your lips, often without saying a word.
- While Comme ci, comme ça is taught in textbooks, many native French speakers actually find it a bit cliché and might prefer saying Bof to express a similar sense of indifference.
- The word ci in the phrase is a contraction of the Latin hīc, which is the root of the French word for 'here'.
Examples in context
- Ça va.It's going, or more broadly, I'm okay.
- Ça va, pas pireNot bad
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about their day.
- LéaSalut Nathan, comment ça va ?Hi Nathan, how are you doing?
- NathanComme ci, comme ça, Léa.So-so, Léa.
- LéaPourquoi ? Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?Why? What's happening?
- NathanJe suis juste un peu fatigué.I am just a bit tired.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ci, comme, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
