How to Say How Are You in French
Learn how to say how are you in French. 'Comment ça va?' is the standard, with formal and casual variations. Pronunciation guide + how to answer 'how are you' in French.
Published · 2 min read · Free · No sign-up
Quick answer
To say 'how are you?' in French, say 'Comment ça va ?' (koh-mahn sah VAH) informally, or the formal 'Comment allez-vous ?' (koh-mahn tah-lay VOO). Casually, you can just say 'Ça va ?' (sah VAH — how's it going?). The standard reply is 'Ça va bien, merci, et toi ?' (I'm good, thanks, and you?).
Comment ça va ?
/koh-mahn sah VAH/ — French
How to Say How Are You in French
After Bonjour, asking how someone is doing is the natural next step. French gives you a casual everyday version and a polished formal one — and the difference matters.
The Standard Phrase
Comment ça va ? — pronounced koh-mahn sah VAH (informal/neutral)
Copy the Phrase
The French phrase for “how are you?” is Comment ça va ? (koh-mahn sah VAH).
Formal vs. Informal
| French | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Comment ça va ? | koh-mahn sah VAH | Informal/neutral — friends, everyday |
| Ça va ? | sah VAH | Casual — “how’s it going?” |
| Comment allez-vous ? | koh-mahn tah-lay VOO | Formal (vous) — strangers, elders, work |
| Comment vas-tu ? | koh-mahn vah TOO | Informal but slightly more proper (tu) |
The formal Comment allez-vous ? features a liaison — the silent ‘t’ of comment links to allez, producing “koh-mahn-t-allez.”
The Magic of “Ça va”
Ça va is one of the most useful expressions in French. It literally means “it goes,” and works as both question and answer:
- Ça va ? — How’s it going? / Are you okay?
- Ça va. — I’m fine. / It’s going well.
A whole exchange can be just: “Ça va ?” — “Ça va !”
How to Answer
| French | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ça va bien | sah vah bee-AN | I’m good |
| Très bien | treh bee-AN | Very well |
| Ça va | sah VAH | I’m fine / okay |
| Pas mal | pah mahl | Not bad |
| Comme ci, comme ça | kom see kom sah | So-so |
| Bof | bohf | Meh (casual) |
| Ça va mal | sah vah mahl | Not good |
Then return the question:
- Et toi ? — And you? (informal)
- Et vous ? — And you? (formal)
Pronunciation Notes
- Comment — koh-mahn (final ‘t’ silent; nasal ‘on’)
- ça — sah (the ç cedilla makes a soft ‘s’, not a hard ‘k’)
- va — vah
A Cultural Note
In France, “Comment ça va ?” is often a genuine question, not just a passing pleasantry like the American “How are you?” Don’t be surprised if people actually tell you how they’re doing. A brief honest answer plus “et toi/vous ?” keeps the exchange natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Comment ça va and Comment allez-vous?
It's about formality. 'Comment ça va ?' (koh-mahn sah VAH) is informal/neutral — used with friends, family, and in everyday casual situations. 'Comment allez-vous ?' (koh-mahn tah-lay VOO) is formal — used with strangers, elders, and in professional settings (the 'vous' form). For close friends you can shorten it to just 'Ça va ?'
What does Ça va mean exactly?
'Ça va' literally means 'it goes' or 'that goes.' As a question ('Ça va ?') it means 'how's it going?' / 'are you okay?' As an answer ('Ça va') it means 'I'm fine / it's going well.' It's wonderfully versatile — 'Ça va ?' / 'Ça va !' can be a whole exchange. It's one of the most useful phrases in French.
How do you answer Comment ça va?
Common replies: 'Ça va bien' (I'm good), 'Très bien' (very well), 'Ça va' (I'm fine — also just 'okay'), 'Comme ci, comme ça' (so-so), 'Pas mal' (not bad), 'Bof' (meh — casual), or 'Ça va mal' (not good). Then return the question: 'Et toi ?' (and you? — informal) or 'Et vous ?' (formal).
How do you pronounce Comment ça va?
'Comment ça va' is pronounced koh-mahn sah VAH. 'Comment' = koh-mahn (the final 't' is silent; 'on' is nasal). 'Ça' = sah (the ç cedilla makes a soft 's' sound). 'Va' = VAH. The stress is light, leaning on the final 'VAH'. 'Comment allez-vous' is koh-mahn tah-lay VOO (note the liaison: 'comment_allez' links with a 't' sound).
What is the liaison in Comment allez-vous?
In 'Comment allez-vous ?', French liaison links the silent 't' of 'comment' to the following vowel of 'allez,' producing a 't' sound: 'koh-mahn-t-allez.' Liaison is the French habit of connecting a normally-silent final consonant to the next word when it starts with a vowel. It makes speech flow smoothly and is a hallmark of natural French pronunciation.