ça va
/sa va/
The English phrase 'it is okay' is translated into French as ça va.
ça va is used to say that everything is fine or that one is doing well. It functions as both a greeting, such as 'How are you?' and as an answer, such as 'I am fine'.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ça va means 'that goes' or 'it goes'.
Which one should you use?
While ça va is a neutral way to say you are doing okay, Ça va bien is a slightly more emphatic way to say 'It is going well' or 'I am doing well'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ça va is an informal expression and is most commonly used with friends, family or peers.
How does it change in a sentence?
By adding a rising intonation at the end, Ça va ? becomes a question meaning 'Are you doing okay?' or 'How is it going?'
How do you pronounce it?
/sa va/
Did you know?
- While ça va usually means things are fine, it can be used as a command to tell someone to stop behaving badly, similar to saying 'enough' or 'that is plenty'.
- The verb in ça va comes from the Latin 'vadere', which is the same root used in the English word 'evade'.
- If someone asks ça va ? and you respond ça va with a falling intonation and a sigh, it can actually imply that things are not going well at all.
Examples in context
- Ça va.I'm okay.
- Pas de souci , tu n'es pas en retard.No worries, you're not late.
- Ça va, merci.It is okay, thanks.
- Tout le monde dit que ça va.Everyone says that everything is fine.
- Est-ce que ça va ?Is everything okay?
Example conversation
Lucas meets Manon at a cafe.
- LucasSalut Manon, ça va ?Hi Manon, are you doing well?
- ManonOui, ça va très bien, merci.Yes, I am doing very well, thanks.
- LucasTant mieux, je suis content pour toi.That's good, I am happy for you.
- ManonEt toi, Lucas, ça va ?And you, Lucas, are you doing well?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ça va, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries va, ça, ça va, CC BY-SA 4.0.
