How do you say "It was" in French?

"It was" in French is "C'était". This phrase is commonly used in France.

How to Say ‘It was’ in French

Q: What does "C'était" mean in English?

"C'était" means "It was" in English. Usage tip: [C'] only appears joined to the next word. In [c'était], it contracts before a vowel and can't stand alone.

C'était

say ay-TAY

[say ay-TAY]

💬 Usage Tip: [C'] only appears joined to the next word. In [c'était], it contracts before a vowel and can't stand alone.

Phrase Breakdown

[say]

it was

Shortened form of 'ce était' in modern French usage, used to say 'it was.'

Example

C' était une rencontre très utile après le salon.

It was a very useful meeting after the trade fair.

était

[ay-TAY]

was

Imperfect form of 'être' meaning 'was' or 'used to be.'

Example

C'était un moment agréable pour parler de nos projets.

It was a pleasant moment to talk about our projects.

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