Inquiring about someone’s well-being is a cornerstone of politeness in most languages, and French is no exception. Asking "How are you?" in French isn’t just good manners; it’s a fantastic way to initiate and sustain conversations. Whether you’re greeting a friend, a colleague, or a new acquaintance, knowing how to ask "How are you" in French is essential.
This guide will walk you through:
- The most common ways to say "How are you doing" in French, covering both formal and casual contexts.
- How to respond naturally when someone asks you "Comment ça va ?"
- Fun and engaging alternative ways to ask "How’s it going?" in French, perfect for connecting with native speakers.
- A unique insight into Belgian French and their distinctive use of "Ça va."
- And much more to enhance your French conversational skills.
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The Essential "How are you?" in French
The most universally recognized way to ask "How are you?" in French is "Comment ça va ?" or its shorter, more informal version, "Ça va ?". This phrase is widely understood and used throughout the French-speaking world.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive table of phrases for inquiring about someone’s well-being, categorized by formal and casual situations. Tout est clair jusqu’à présent ? (Is everything clear so far?) Let’s continue!
Formal Ways to Ask "How are you?" in French
Navigating formal settings, such as the workplace or interactions with people you don’t know well, requires a more polite approach. Here’s how to ask "How are you?" formally in French:
| English | French | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| How are you? | Comment ça va ? | kɔmə sa va ? |
| How are you doing? | Comment allez-vous ? | kɔmət‿ ale-vu ? |
| How are you feeling? | Comment vous sentez-vous ? | kɔmə vu sɑ̃te-vu ? |
| How are you doing today? | Comment allez-vous aujourd’hui ? | kɔmət‿ ale-vuz‿ oʒuɾdɥi ? |
| Are you well? | Vous allez bien ? | vuz‿ ale bjɛ̃ ? |
| Are you doing well? | Vous vous portez bien ? | vu vu pɔɾte bjɛ̃ ? |
| All good? | Tout va bien ? | tu va bjɛ̃ ? |
| I hope you are doing well | J’espère que vous allez bien | ʒɛspɛɾə kə vuz‿ ale bjɛ̃ |
Casual and Slang Ways to Say "How are you?" in French
For more relaxed settings with friends or people you know well, you can use informal and even slang expressions. If you’re interested in expanding your slang vocabulary, explore our extensive guide to French slang and then return to discover these casual greetings!
| English | French | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| Hey, how are you? | Salut, ça va ? | saly, sa va ? |
| Are you ok? | Ça va ? | sa va ? |
| Did you sleep well? | Tu as bien dormi ? | ty a bjɛ̃ dɔɾmi ? |
| How is it going? | Comment tu vas ? | kɔmə ty va ? |
| Everything is smooth? | Ça roule ? | sa ɾulə ? |
| On top of things? | Ça gère ? | sa ʒɛɾə ? |
| Everything’s flowing? | Ça farte ? | sa faɾtə ? |
| What’s up? | Quoi de neuf ? | kwa də nœf ? |
| Doing great? | Ça gaze ? | sa gazə ? |
| What’s new? | Quoi de beau ? | kwa də bo ? |
| Everything’s a breeze? | Ça baigne ? | sa bɛɲə ? |
| Is it going as you wish? | Ça va comme tu veux ? | sa va kɔmə ty vø ? |
| In shape? | La forme ? | la fɔɾmə ? |
Responding to "How are you?" in French
When someone greets you with "How are you?" in French, knowing how to respond is just as important as initiating the greeting. In casual encounters, a simple "Ça va" or reciprocating the question is sufficient. However, with friends or those genuinely interested in your well-being, a more detailed response is appropriate. To further enhance your vocabulary related to feelings, you might find our article on feelings in French helpful.
| English | French (Singular) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| I’m good. How are you? | Ça va, et toi ? | sa va,e twa ? |
| Not too bad thanks and yourself? | Ça va pas mal, merci, et toi ? | sa va pa mal, mɛɾsi,e twa ? |
| I’m fine, how are you? | Je vais bien, et toi comment ça va ? | ʒə ve bjɛ̃,e twa kɔmə sa va ? |
| I’m hanging there, thanks. | On fait aller, merci. | õ fɛt‿ ale, mɛɾsi. |
| I’m feeling great, thanks! | Ça va très bien, merci ! | sa va tɾe bjɛ̃, mɛɾsi ! |
| I’m a little tired, but good thank you! | Je suis un peu fatigué(e) mais ça va, merci ! | ʒə sɥiz‿ œ̃ pø fatige(ɛ) me sa va, mɛɾsi ! |
| Could be worse! | Ça pourrait être pire ! | sa purɛt‿ ɛtɾə piɾə ! |
| I’m having a great day, thanks! | Je passe une super journée, merci ! | ʒə pas ynə sype ʒuɾneə, mɛɾsi ! |
| I’m in shape, thanks! | En forme, merci ! | ɑ̃ fɔɾmə, mɛɾsi ! |
| Everything is smooth | Ça roule | sa ɾulə |
| On top of things | Ça gère | sa ʒɛɾə |
| Everything’s flowing | Ça farte | sa faɾtə |
| Doing great | Ça gaze | sa gazə |
| Everything’s a breeze | Ça baigne | sa bɛɲə |
| I’m under the weather today | Je suis un peu patraque aujourd’hui | ʒə sɥiz‿ œ̃ pø patɾak oʒuɾdɥi |
| I’m a bit stressed today | Je suis un peu stressé(e) aujourd’hui | ʒə sɥiz‿ œ̃ pø stɾɛse(ɛ) oʒuɾdɥi |
| I’m great now that you’re here | Ça va bien maintenant que tu es là | sa va bjɛ̃ mɛ̃tənɑ̃ kə tyɛ la |
| Good to see you, how are you? | Je suis content(e) de te voir, comment vas-tu? | ʒə sɥi kõtɑ̃t(ɛ) də tə vwaɾ, kɔmə va-ty ? |
| I’m doing awesome | Je suis en pleine forme/Je pète la forme | ʒə sɥiz‿ɑ̃ plɛnə fɔɾmɛ/ʒə pɛtə la fɔɾmə |
| All is well | Tout va bien | tu va bjɛ̃ |
The Nuances of "Ça va" in Belgium
Belgium, known for its rich history, delicious fries, and, of course, its unique French dialect, presents an interesting twist on the phrase "Ça va". While it certainly means "How are you doing?" in Belgium, it also serves as a simple "Ok" or "Great" in response to a question or suggestion. For instance:
- On se retrouve à 18h sur la Grand-Place ? (Shall we meet at 6pm at the Grand-Place?)
- Ça va, à tout à l’heure. (Ok, see you later.)
This understated affirmation might seem subtle, but if a Belgian colleague or boss responds with "Ça va" after reviewing your work, rest assured, it’s a positive acknowledgment of your efforts! For more insights into the typically reserved demeanor of francophone Europeans, explore our article on feelings in French.
Fun and Cultural Ways to Say "Hi, How are you?" in French
Just like in English, where phrases like Joey Tribbiani’s iconic "How you doin’?" add a touch of personality, French has its own culturally rich and playful ways to ask "Comment ça va ?" Here are two fun examples rooted in French pop culture:
1. Les Inconnus: "Salut, tu vas bien"
Les Inconnus, a famous French comedy group, popularized the phrase "Salut, tu vas bien" through their satirical song of the same name. This song humorously depicted the wealthy Parisian suburbs of Auteuil, Neuilly, and Passy, and even referenced the quintessential French custom of la bise (cheek kissing). You can listen to the full song for context here. For more on la bise, check out our article on hello in French.
Following the song’s success, Les Inconnus cleverly reused and adapted the phrase in another satirical song about the French tax system, creating a pun "Salut, TVA bien"—playing on "Tu vas bien" and "TVA" (VAT).
2. Brice de Nice: "Ça farte"
Brice de Nice, a cult French movie starring Jean Dujardin, introduced "Ça farte ?" into popular slang. In the movie, Brice, a caricature of a surfer in Nice, greets an elderly swimmer every morning with "Ça farte ?" This quirky greeting has since become a widely recognized and humorous way to ask "How are you doing?" in French. You can see a clip here.
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We hope you’re feeling "en forme" after reading this article!
If you are feeling "en forme" (in good shape) and motivated to continue learning French, expand your greeting repertoire with our related articles.
