comme ça
/kɔm sa/
In French, 'like this' is expressed as comme ça.
The phrase comme ça is used to describe the manner or way in which something is done, or to describe a state or situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of comme (like/as) and ça (that/this).
Which one should you use?
While comme ça is the most common way to say 'like this' in spoken French, comme ceci is a more formal alternative used to point to something physically close. Additionally, comme cela is a formal expression used to convey 'like this' in a more refined way.
How do you pronounce it?
/kɔm sa/
Did you know?
- When asked how they are doing, a French speaker might reply comme ça to mean 'so-so'. This uses the phrase to describe a mediocre state of being rather than a physical manner.
- The common phrase comme ça likely evolved from the older, more descriptive expression gros comme ça, which literally means 'big like that'.
- In casual conversation, comme ça is often used to express a lack of precision or a general 'somehow' feeling, moving beyond a literal description of manner.
Examples in context
- Où allez-vous comme ça ?Where are you going like this?This sentence is useful for asking about a destination while using comme ça.Tatoeba #10505661 by pkill, translation #12416362 by Orange
- Tu devrais faire comme ça.You should do it like this.This sentence is useful for giving advice on how to perform an action using comme ça.Tatoeba #4641410 by Tchernobil, translation #4638962 by corbinjurgens
- C'était toujours comme ça.It was always like this.This sentence is useful for describing a past state or situation using comme ça.Tatoeba #11531948 by Aiji, translation #12085137 by carlosalberto
- Vous devriez le prononcer de cette façon.You should pronounce it like this.
- Il écrit comme cela.He writes like this.
- C'est fait comme ça.It's done like this.
- Il faut tenir la raquette comme ça, tu vois.We need to hold the racket like this, tu vois.
- Il faut le faire comme ça, vraiment.You have to do it like this, truly.
- Prononce le mot 'bonjour' comme ça : bohn-zhoor.Pronounce the word 'bonjour' like this: bohn-zhoor.
- Mélange les ingrédients ensemble comme ça.Mix the ingredients together like this.
- Faut le tenir de même.You have to hold it like this.
- 100 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé is showing Nathan how to hold a camera.
- ChloéTu dois tenir l'appareil comme ça.You have to hold the camera like this.
- NathanComme ça, avec les deux mains ?Like this, with both hands?
- ChloéOui, exactement comme ça.Yes, exactly like that.
- NathanC'est beaucoup plus facile ainsi.It is much easier this way.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry comme ça, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comme, comme ça, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
