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

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

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How to Say ‘How are you?’ in French

Q: What does "Comment ça va?" mean in English?

"Comment ça va?" means "How are you?" in English. Usage tip: [Ça va ?] is both a question and an answer. You can ask [Comment ça va ?] or simply reply [Ça va].

Comment ça va?

koh-mahn sah vah

[koh-mahn sah vah]

💬 Usage Tip: [Ça va ?] is both a question and an answer. You can ask [Comment ça va ?] or simply reply [Ça va].

🇫🇷 In France: In networking or casual professional chat, this is lighter and less formal than [Comment allez-vous ?]. It works best once the tone is already a bit relaxed.

Phrase Breakdown

Comment

[koh-mahn]

How

Used to ask about someone’s manner or circumstance.

Example

Comment ça se passe?

How is it going?

ça

[sah]

A pronoun referring to a situation, thing, or place previously discussed.

Example

Ça va bien.

It's going well.

[vah]

To move or proceed, in this context, asking about well-being.

Example

Va-t'en!

Go away!

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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