ça arrive
The English phrase "it happens" is translated into French as ça arrive.
The phrase is used to console someone or to downplay a mistake or an unfortunate event, much like the English "it happens".
Meaning: worrying is not necessary (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the demonstrative pronoun ça (that) and the verb arrive (arrives/reaches).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ça arrive is an informal way to express this idea. Using ça instead of cela makes the phrase sound more natural and informal in spoken French.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the third-person singular form of the verb arriver.
Did you know?
- The pronoun ça is a calque of the German word Es, which refers to a neutral 'id' or 'it'.
- French has a similar expression ça arrive à tout le monde, meaning 'it happens to everyone', which is often used as a social lubricant to remove shame from a clumsy mistake.
- In spoken French, using cela arrive instead of ça arrive can make a speaker sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- Ça arrive tout le temps.It happens all the time.Tatoeba #2021965 by sacredceltic, translation #2020946 by Spamster
- Oui, ça arrive de temps en temps.Yes, it happens from time to time.Tatoeba #3742 by TRANG, translation #1919 by Swift
- Ça arrive aux meilleurs d'entre nous.It happens to the best of us.Tatoeba #11937253 by Rovo, translation #9189653 by DJ_Saidez
- Cela se produit parfois lors de nos réunions.It happens sometimes during our meetings.
- Malheureusement, cela se produit régulièrement dans notre secteur.Unfortunately, it happens regularly in our industry.
- Ça arrive rarement, mais parfois c'est inévitable.It happens rarely, but sometimes it's unavoidable.
- Ça arrive de temps en temps, mais nous faisons de notre mieux pour l'éviter.It happens from time to time, but we do our best to avoid it.
- Oui, c'est normal que ça arrive de cette manière.Yes, it's normal for it to happen this way.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo is upset because he lost his keys.
- LéaPourquoi es-tu si triste, Hugo ?Why are you so sad, Hugo?
- HugoJ'ai perdu mes clés de voiture.I lost my car keys.
- LéaNe t'inquiète pas, ça arrive.Don't worry, it happens.
- HugoMerci, Léa, ça me rassure.Thank you, Léa, that reassures me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it happens” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
