How to Say ‘It was’ in French
C'était
say ay-tay
[say ay-tay]
💬 Usage Tip: From c’est in the past: c’était = “it was.” Handy for reacting right after a play.
🇫🇷 In France: French fans love quick emotional summaries after an action: C’était fou ! C’était chaud !
Phrase Breakdown
C'
[say]
it / that
Contracted form of ce before a vowel; here it means 'it' or 'that'.
C' était un moment très stressant pour les supporters.
It was a very stressful moment for the supporters.
était
[ay-tay]
was
Imperfect form of être, used to describe a past situation or feeling.
C'était si proche que tout le monde a retenu son souffle.
It was so close that everyone held their breath.
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