how are you
"Comment ça va ?" is the most versatile way to ask "how are you" in French. It literally translates to "how does it go," painting a mental picture of checking in on the general flow or state of someone's life at that exact moment. While "Comment ça va ?" is standard, you can shorten it to "Ça va ?" for friends or use "Comment allez-vous ?" in professional settings to show respect. It is the go-to opener for almost any social interaction in French-speaking cultures.
In conversation
Meeting a friend at a cafe
Salut Thomas ! Comment ça va ?
Hi Thomas! How are you?
Ça va super, et toi ?
I'm doing great, and you?
Using 'Ça va' as a response is very common and can mean 'I'm fine' or 'it's going well'.
Polite inquiry with a colleague
Bonjour, comment allez-vous aujourd'hui ?
Hello, how are you doing today?
Très bien, merci. Et vous ?
Very well, thank you. And you?
The formal 'vous' is essential when speaking to superiors or people you don't know well.
Examples
Ça va ?
How are you? / Is it going well?
Comment ça va avec ton nouveau travail ?
How is it going with your new job?
Dites-moi, comment allez-vous depuis notre dernière rencontre ?
Tell me, how have you been since we last met?
