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 ?

sah vah

[sah vah]

💬 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

[sah]

it / that

In the expression Ça va ?, ça is part of a fixed phrase meaning 'how are things?'

Example

Au portail, je demande Ça va ? à un parent.

At the gate, I ask a parent 'How are things?'

[vah]

goes

In Ça va ?, va literally means 'goes' and helps form the common expression 'How are you?'

Example

Quand je vois une voisine, je lui demande souvent Ça va ?

When I see a neighbour, I often ask her 'How are you?'

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.

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