tout va bien ?
The English phrase "is everything okay?" is translated into French as tout va bien ?
Tout va bien ? is used to check on a person's well-being or to verify that a specific situation or process is proceeding without issues.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tout va bien literally translates to "everything goes well".
Which one should you use?
While tout va bien ? is a standard way to ask if everything is okay, Ça va ? serves as a more casual and shorter alternative to ask if someone is doing well or how things are going.
How does it change in a sentence?
In French, you can turn the statement tout va bien into a question simply by raising your intonation at the end.
When do people say it?
A standard way to respond to this question is Oui, tout va bien. if things are indeed fine.
Did you know?
- In some French-speaking regions, tout va bien can be used ironically to signal the exact opposite, often accompanied by a shrug or a sigh.
- While tout va bien ? asks about a general state, French has the word débrouiller to describe the specific act of 'sorting things out' when everything is NOT okay.
- The word bien in the phrase shares the same Latin ancestor, bene, as the English word 'benefit'.
Examples in context
- Très bien, merci. Est-ce que tout se passe bien dans votre projet?Very well, thank you. Is everything going smoothly in your project?
- Excusez-moi, Madame Martin. Tout va bien?Excuse me, Madame Martin. Is everything okay?
- Salut Marie, ça va?Hi Marie, how's it going?
- Super, merci! Est-ce que tout se passe bien avec tes études?Great, thanks! Is everything going well with your studies?
- Hé Jean, tout va bien?Hey Jean, is everything okay?
- Ouais, tout va bien, mec. Merci de demander.Yeah, everything is fine, man. Thanks for asking.
- Est-ce que tout va bien ?Is everything okay?
- Dis-moi, tout va bien ?Tell me, is everything okay?
- Pour l'instant, tout va bien ?For now, is everything okay?
Example conversation
Léa notices Lucas looking worried.
- LéaLucas, tout va bien ?Lucas, is everything okay?
- LucasOui, ne t'inquiète pas.Yes, don't worry.
- LéaTu as l'air stressé.You look stressed.
- LucasC'est juste beaucoup de travail.It's just a lot of work.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, tout, va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
