How do you say "How are you?" in French?

"How are you?" in French is "Ça va ?". This phrase is commonly used in France.

What does "Ça va ?" mean in English?

"Ça va ?" means "How are you?" in English. Usage tip: [Ça va ?] asks and answers. Reply [Ça va] and you are done.

❓

How to Say ‘How are you?’ in French

Ça va ?

sa va

[sa va]

💬 Usage Tip: [Ça va ?] asks and answers. Reply [Ça va] and you are done.

🇫🇷 In France: At the school gate this is a passing hello, not a real question. A long answer reads as odd.

Phrase Breakdown

Ça

[sa]

it / that

Used in the fixed expression Ça va ? to ask how things are going.

Example

Quand je vois une voisine, je demande Ça va ?

When I see a neighbour, I ask How are things?

[va]

goes / is going

In Ça va ?, this word means goes, giving the sense of How is it going?

Example

Au portail, Ça va ? est une question simple et naturelle.

At the gate, Ça va? is a simple and natural question.

Guides for French learners

The Best App to Learn French: An Honest ComparisonDuolingo, Babbel, Pimsleur, Busuu, italki and PrettyFluent compared for learning French: what each is best at, how you pay, and which fits your goal.French Conversation for Beginners: 5 Everyday Dialogues You'll Actually UseFive short French conversations for beginners, from greeting a neighbour to booking a restaurant, with translations, native audio and the phrases that keep them going.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Custom Scenarios

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant scenarios were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer