c'était génial
The English phrase "it was great" can be translated into French as c'était génial.
This phrase is used to describe a past experience or event as very enjoyable or wonderful.
Which one should you use?
While c'était génial is a common way to say it was awesome, you can also use c'était super to mean it was great or c'était top as a common colloquial way to say something was great or top-notch in modern French.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In informal situations, you might use c'était génial, c'était super or the colloquial c'était top. For more formal or elegant contexts, you can use c'était formidable to mean it was wonderful, C'était excellent to mean it was excellent or C'était remarquable to convey that something was remarkable or outstanding.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying ça était génial. English speakers often mistakenly say 'ça était' instead of the contracted 'c'était'.
Did you know?
- If you want to say something was great in a very slangy, youthful way, you might say c'était lourd. Though 'lourd' literally means 'heavy', in certain modern street contexts it functions as a compliment.
- The word formidable in French is a positive synonym for 'great', whereas in English it often implies something daunting or intimidating.
- In certain regions of France, especially in the south, you might hear people use canon to describe something great. While it literally means 'cannon', it is used colloquially to mean 'excellent' or 'stunning'.
Examples in context
- La présentation que vous avez donnée était excellente.The presentation you gave was excellent.
- La soirée d'hier était géniale !Last night's party was awesome!
- Les vacances étaient super !The vacation was great!
- Ton cadeau était vraiment top !Your gift was really great!
- C'était génial, merci !It was great, thank you!
- Le concert, c'était génial.The concert was great.
- C'était génial de te voir.It was great to see you.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are talking about a movie they just saw.
- ChloéTu as aimé le film ?Did you like the movie?
- HugoOui, c'était génial !Yes, it was great!
- ChloéJe suis contente que tu aies aimé.I am happy that you liked it.
- HugoC'était une excellente idée, Chloé.It was an excellent idea, Chloé.
