If you’ve mastered how to say “hello” and “nice to meet you” in French, you’re ready to take the next step in basic conversation and learn a few different ways to say “how are you?”
It may seem like a very simple question, but with the French language’s flair for formality, it’s important to use the socially appropriate forms of the phrases. You’ll be considered polite, and you’ll ensure that your question is received well. This helpful guide will give you some options for saying “how are you?” in French and cover a variety of possible replies.
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How do you say ‘How are you?’ in French?
These phrases will have you covered for most daily interactions, whether businesslike or casual. Notice the French punctuation includes the espace insécable (non breaking space).
1. Comment allez-vous ?
This common way of asking “How are you doing?” in French is fairly familiar, even to those who don’t speak French. It fits a wide variety of situations. Both formal and polite, it’s appropriate to use with people you want to show a higher degree of respect, such as a boss, an elder, or an authority figure.
- Comment allez-vous ? = How are you?
- Bonjour, Madame Gauthier, comment allez-vous ? = Hello, Mrs. Gauthier, how are you?
- Je vais bien. = I am fine.
2. Comment vas-tu ?
This is the informal version of comment allez-vous ?, ideally used to greet friends, family, and people you know well. Both tu and vous are ways to say “you” and use different verb forms to convey formal and informal language. This informal greeting indicates a sense of social closeness, so it might be awkward if you use it in the wrong situation and come across as overly casual.
- Comment vas-tu ? = How are you?
- Bonjour, Sophie. Comment vas-tu ? = Hello, Sophie. How are you?
The use of inversion to form French questions, by using the verb followed by a hyphen and then the subject, is a bit more formal, so feel free to say Comment tu vas ? in casual speech instead.
3. Comment ça va ?
This is another informal way to say “How are you?” in French that loosely translates to “How’s it going?” As with comment vas-tu ?, use this with people you know well.
You can also shorten the phrase to ça va ?, often leading to a common formulaic response.
- Ça va ? = How are you?
- Ça va bien. Ça va ? = Good, and you?
- Oui, ça va. = Yes, good.
4. Vous allez bien ?
This more formal phrase means “Are you doing well?” An informal option would be Tu vas bien ?
5. Comment vous sentez-vous ?
Only say this phrase if you’re hoping for a more detailed answer. Especially if you know the person you’re talking to was sick or struggling, you’re asking more specifically, “How are you feeling?” To ask informally, use Comment tu te sens ?
6. Ça roule ?
This colloquial phrase translates to “It rolls?” It’s a casual and fun way to say “How are you?” in French, and just like Ça va ? people often reply with Ça roule back. Similar expressions include Ça gaze ? which is argot (French slang) to say “What’s up?” or “All good?” Use this only with friends you know well.
7. Tout va bien ?
This expression meaning “Is everything going well?” sounds incredibly similar to tu vas bien ? (Are you doing well?). French pronunciation is important here. Listen carefully to the difference in vowel sounds in the word tout (all/everything) and tu (you—informal). The latter uses the uniquely French “u” sound, whereas tout uses more of an “oo” sound, almost like “shoe” in English. The words vas and va are indistinguishable due to the silent “s.”
8. Quoi de neuf ?
Good for a bit of variety, this means “What’s new?” or “What’s up?” It’s relaxed and friendly, and is a great addition to your small-talk repertoire. Be like the French and pronounce it quoi d’neuf, even though that would be breaking grammar rules about spelling in written French. A few good responses might include pas grand-chose (not much), or rien de spécial (nothing special).
Responding to ‘How are you?’ in French
Here are several replies you can give to any of the above expressions. Keep in mind that in formal situations, it’s customary to keep your answers positive, so learn to say “very good” in French. When speaking to a close friend, you might be more candid with your responses.
It’s also polite to ask the other person how they’re doing after you answer, if you haven’t done so already. You can do this by saying et vous ? (and you?) in a formal situation, or et toi ? in a relaxed one.
Formal responses
These answers are polite and to the point, including “thank you” in French.
- Bien, merci. = Good, thank you.
- Très bien, merci. = Very good, thank you.
- Je vais bien, merci. = I’m doing well, thank you.
Informal responses
These relaxed answers are good for chatting with friends and family.
- Ça va. = It goes/good (the expected response to ça va ?).
- Ça va bien. = It’s going well.
- Ça va très bien. = It’s going very well.
- En forme. = In good shape.
- Pas mal. = Not bad.
- Pas terrible. = Not great.
- Ça roule. = It’s rolling (the expected response to ça roule ?).
What about comme çi, comme ça ?
While many textbooks have taught learners through the years this expression for “so-so” or neutral response, it’s considered dated and uncommon today. Instead, to indicate a “not good, but not bad” state of affairs, try one of the following answers:
- Ça se passe. = It’s going/it’s happening.
- Bof. = “Meh” (said with a shrug). According to Frenchdictionary.com, this is a great expression for when you’re feeling a lack of enthusiasm.
- Couçi-couça. = So-so (If you just can’t stop yourself from thinking comme çi comme ça, use this, but it’s still considered a bit old-fashioned).
- Ça va aller. = It will go (perhaps it’s not great now, but it will be).
- Ça peut aller. = It can go.
Small talk in French and related expressions
If you’re exchanging expected greetings in passing, don’t worry about anything more than a “hello” in French and a “How are you?” expression. And be sure to skip the bonjour (hello/good morning) if you’ve already greeted the person that day!
In some situations, you might expect to converse more, whereas other situations call for a respectful silence around strangers, with no pressure to start a conversation. Take your cues from the context.
Formal conversation
In formal situations, stick to very basic topics, avoiding anything personal. In some cultures, asking about one’s family or workplace might be considered polite, but these types of questions might be intrusive if you don’t know the person well. Better to stick to the weather. In fact, one French expression for “small talk” is parler de la pluie et du beau temps (to talk about the rain and the nice weather). Et avant tout (and above all), use the vous forms.
Here are some suggested questions you could ask in a formal small-talk scenario:
| French | English |
| Comment s’est passé votre weekend ? | How was your weekend? |
| Il va pleuvoir aujourd’hui. | It’s going to rain today. |
| Pas de problème sur la route ? | You didn’t have any trouble getting here? |
| Vous avez bien mangé ? | Did you eat well? |
| Vous avez fait bon voyage ? | Did you have a good trip? |
| Vous êtes bien installé ? | Do you have a nice hotel/lodging? |
Informal chitchat
If you’re in a more relaxed setting, especially if the person has given you permission to tutoyer (address them with tu and its forms), you might ask:
| French | English |
| Il fait beau chez toi ? | Is the weather nice at your house/where you live? |
| Les enfants vont bien ? | How are your kids? |
| Quel temps ! | What weather! |
| Quel temps fait-il ? | What’s the weather today? |
| Tu as passé une bonne journée ? | Have you had a nice day? |
Show polite interest in others with ‘How are you?’ in French
For such a simple expression in English, there are a lot of possible French translations. Owing to French cultural considerations, such as formal vs. informal speech and feelings about small talk, it’s important to think in French instead of translating thoughts from English.
Start with a strong understanding of vous vs. tu situations, and choose your greeting accordingly. The appropriate response might be a short answer like bien, merci, et vous ? (fine, thanks, and you?) followed by respectful silence. You can always start with more formal options and take your cues from those around you. A trusted French-speaking friend or one of Rosetta Stone’s expert tutors can shed light on the formality expected in their culture.
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