ça va
/sa va/
In French, "I'm fine" can be translated as ça va or je vais bien.
Meaning: response (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| ça va | /sa va/ |
| je vais bien |
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ça va translates to "it goes" or "it is going."
Which one should you use?
ça va is more informal and versatile than je vais bien.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ça va can change from a statement of being fine to a question asking how someone is simply by adding a question mark or using rising intonation: ça va ?
How do you pronounce it?
/sa va/
When do people say it?
When someone asks you Ça va ?, a common way to respond is to repeat the phrase and follow up with a question. In informal settings, you can say Ça va, et toi ? (I'm fine and you?). If you are speaking to a stranger or a superior, use the polite form Ça va, et vous ? (I'm fine and you?).
Did you know?
- Depending on the context, ça va can be used to mean 'that is enough' or 'I have had enough', often accompanying a hand gesture to stop someone from pouring a drink.
- The word bien in je vais bien shares a Latin ancestor, 'bene', with the English word 'benefit'.
- In very casual French, the phrase ça va can be used as a question to ask if someone is okay after a fall or a mistake, rather than as a general greeting.
Examples in context
- Ça va, j'ai compris.I'm fine, I understand.This sentence shows ça va used to indicate understanding.Tatoeba #6559865 by Blabla, translation #6581306 by Eccles17
- Je vais bien, et toi ?I'm fine. How about you?This sentence shows how to use je vais bien to ask how the other person is doing.Tatoeba #8740 by sacredceltic, translation #239427 by CM
- Je vais bien maintenant.I'm fine now.This sentence shows how to use je vais bien to describe a current state.Tatoeba #9328 by qdii, translation #2247991 by CK
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends meet in a park.
- HugoSalut Emma, ça va ?Hi Emma, how are you?
- EmmaÇa va, Hugo. Et toi ?I'm fine, Hugo. And you?
- HugoÇa va très bien, merci.I'm doing very well, thanks.
- EmmaSuper, je suis contente pour toi.Great, I am happy for you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I'm fine” translations and entries ça va, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, je, va, vais, ça, ça va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
