comme ci, comme ça
The English phrase 'so-so' can be translated into French as comme ci, comme ça.
The phrase comme ci, comme ça is used to express that something is mediocre or of average quality. In other contexts, expressions like pas terrible or pas super can also be used to convey a 'so-so' meaning, though these specifically imply that something is not great and carry a slightly more negative tone than saying something is pas mal.
Meaning: neither good nor bad (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The expression comme ci, comme ça literally translates to 'like this, like that'.
Which one should you use?
While comme ci, comme ça is used as an adjective or adverb to mean 'so-so', you may also encounter couci-couça. This is a more colloquial and slightly more old-fashioned way to express the same idea of being 'neither well nor poorly'.
Related words
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using comme ci, comme ça to mean 'it depends'. This is a common error for English speakers. The phrase is specifically used to mean 'so-so' or 'average'.
Did you know?
- While comme ci, comme ça is a staple of French textbooks worldwide, native speakers in France rarely use it in daily conversation, preferring alternatives like bof or moyen.
- In modern France, saying pas mal can actually be a higher compliment than comme ci, comme ça and often translates closer to 'quite good' than 'not bad'.
- The word comme in this expression shares an ancient ancestor with the Latin word quōmodo, which originally asked 'in what way'.
Examples in context
- La prestation de service était pas mal, sans être exceptionnelle.The service was so-so, without being exceptional.
- Comment était le film ? Bof, rien de spécial.How was the movie? So-so, nothing special.
- Tu as aimé la fête ? Mouais, ça allait.Did you enjoy the party? So-so, it was okay.
- Les résultats de l'examen étaient pas super, mais j'ai réussi quand même.The exam results were so-so, but I passed anyway.
Example conversation
Léa asks Hugo how his day was.
- LéaComment s'est passée ta journée, Hugo ?How was your day, Hugo?
- HugoC'était comme ci, comme ça.It was so-so.
- LéaPourquoi ? Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?Why? What happened?
- HugoRien de spécial, juste un peu fatigant.Nothing special, just a bit tiring.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ci, comme, ça, CC BY-SA 4.0.
