🇫🇷 French phrases

How to Say "How are you?" in French

The SPAIKING TeamJuly 27, 2026
Comment ça va ?
"How are you?" in French · say it like koh-mahn sah vah

The most natural way to say "How are you?" in French is Comment ça va ?. Tap the speaker above to hear it, then say it back out loud. That is the fastest way to make it stick.

Other ways to say it

Comment allez-vous ?
Use this in formal situations or when addressing someone you don't know well.
Ça va ?
A more casual and informal way to ask.

When to use it

You can use 'Comment ça va ?' in everyday conversations with friends or acquaintances. It's friendly and casual. For formal situations, like in a business meeting, prefer 'Comment allez-vous ?'. In very informal settings, just saying 'Ça va ?' is perfectly acceptable.

Say it out loud, get corrected

Reading it is not the same as saying it. Practice "How are you?" and thousands more with an AI coach that listens.

Examples in French

FrenchEnglish
Salut, comment ça va ?Hi, how are you?
Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?Hello, how are you?
Common mistake
A common mistake is to use 'Comment ça va ?' in very formal contexts, where 'Comment allez-vous ?' is more appropriate.

The fastest way to remember it

Vocabulary you only read fades fast. Vocabulary you say out loud sticks. Hear Comment ça va ?, repeat it a few times, then use it in a real sentence. SPAIKING lets you practice exactly that, speaking French with a coach that corrects your pronunciation in real time. You can start with two free conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Is it okay to ask 'Ça va ?' to someone I just met?

It's better to use 'Comment allez-vous ?' in that case to be polite.

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