How Are You in French: 15 Ways to Ask (From Formal to Slang)
Vlad Podoliako
Founder & CEO, LinguaLive
Vlad Podoliako is the founder of LinguaLive, an AI-powered language learning platform. With a background in data science and artificial intelligence, Vlad is passionate about using technology to make language learning accessible and effective for everyone.
Follow on LinkedInAsk "How are you?" in French the wrong way, and you might sound like a textbook robot—or worse, accidentally insult someone by being too casual. French has at least 15 different ways to ask this simple question, each with specific social rules about when and with whom to use them.
The most common way to ask "How are you?" in French depends on formality: "Comment allez-vous?" (formal, with strangers/elders) or "Ça va?" (casual, with friends/peers). For everyday use, "Ça va?" is by far the most popular—it's casual, friendly, and works in 90% of situations with people you know.
The Two Essential Forms: Formal vs. Casual
🎩 FORMAL: Comment allez-vous?
Use with: Strangers, elders, authority figures, professional settings, first meetings
Translation: How are you? (formal, using "vous")
When: Job interviews, meeting parents, speaking to professors, formal events, customer service
👕 CASUAL: Ça va?
Use with: Friends, family, peers, people your age, after you know someone
Translation: How's it going? / You good?
When: Everyday conversations, casual settings, with anyone who's invited you to use "tu"
15 Ways to Ask "How Are You?" in French
Formal Expressions (Use "vous")
Casual Expressions (Use "tu")
Very Casual & Slang Expressions
Regional & Unique Variations
How to Respond to "Ça va?" and Other Greetings
Standard Responses
Cultural Context: Tu vs. Vous
Use "VOUS" (formal) with:
- Strangers, especially older adults
- Authority figures (bosses, professors, police, doctors)
- Professional settings (colleagues you don't know well, clients, interviews)
- Service workers (initially—waiters, shop staff, hotel employees)
- Anyone significantly older than you (unless they invite "tu")
Use "TU" (informal) with:
- Friends, family, children
- Peers (people your age in casual settings)
- After someone says "On peut se tutoyer" (We can use tu)
- Young people generally use "tu" among themselves
⚠️ Important: When in doubt, start with "vous." If the other person wants "tu," they'll let you know. It's better to be too formal than too casual in French culture.
Pronunciation Tips
Key Sounds to Master:
- "Comment" nasal sound: "koh-MAHN" - the "mahn" is nasal, through your nose
- "Ça" pronunciation: "sah" (short, crisp, not "say")
- "Va/vas/allez" difference:
- "Va" (singular informal): "vah"
- "Vas" (question form): "vah" (s is silent)
- "Allez" (formal): "ah-leh" (not "ah-lez")
- French "R" in "roule": Guttural R from back of throat, not rolled
- "Bien" pronunciation: "bee-EHN" with nasal ending
Try LinguaLive's AI French Tutor to practice French greetings with instant pronunciation feedback. Master nasal vowels, the French R, and natural intonation—all with unlimited, judgment-free practice.
FAQs About "How Are You?" in French
What's the difference between "Comment allez-vous?" and "Ça va?"
"Comment allez-vous?" is formal (uses "vous") and appropriate for strangers, elders, or professional settings. "Ça va?" is casual (uses "tu" implicitly) and used with friends, family, or peers. "Ça va?" is by far more common in everyday life.
Is "Ça va?" a question or a statement?
Both! "Ça va?" (with rising intonation) = "How's it going?" (question). "Ça va." (statement, flat intonation) = "I'm good" (response). The intonation determines meaning.
Can I use "Ça va?" with anyone?
Only with people you're on "tu" terms with—friends, family, peers, young people. Don't use it with strangers, elders, or in formal settings unless invited. Start with "Comment allez-vous?" and wait for them to switch to casual language.
What does "Ça roule?" mean literally?
"Ça roule" literally means "it rolls," but idiomatically means "everything's rolling smoothly" or "things are good." It's slang for "how's it going?" Very casual—use only with friends.
How do I know when someone wants me to use "tu" instead of "vous"?
They'll usually say "On peut se tutoyer?" (Can we use tu with each other?) or "Tu peux me tutoyer" (You can use tu with me). Alternatively, if they use "tu" with you first, it's an invitation to reciprocate. Young people (under 30) often skip straight to "tu" among themselves.
Is it rude to ask "Comment allez-vous?" to friends?
Not rude, but sounds stiff and overly formal—like speaking to a stranger. Friends will find it odd. Once you're on "tu" terms, use "Ça va?" or "Comment tu vas?" instead. Continuing to use "vous" with friends creates distance.
What's "Quoi de neuf?" and when do I use it?
"Quoi de neuf?" means "What's new?" (literally "what of new?"). It's casual and implies you want to catch up, not just a quick greeting. Use it with friends you haven't seen in a while, not as a daily greeting.
Why do French people say "Ça va" twice?
In casual conversations, you'll hear: "Ça va?" "Ça va, ça va." The first "Ça va?" is the question. The response "Ça va, ça va" (said quickly, almost "sa-va-sa-va") means "I'm good, I'm good" or "Yeah, fine, fine." It's very common and natural.
Regional Differences
🇫🇷 France (Metropolitan)
- Most common: "Ça va?" among friends, "Comment allez-vous?" formal
- Slang: "Ça roule?" "Quoi de neuf?" "Ça gaze?"
- Paris specifically: Fast-paced, often skip full greetings
🇧🇪 Belgium
- Unique: "Comment ça boume?" (very Belgian)
- Also common: "Ça va?" like France
- Slightly different accent but same phrases work
🇨🇭 Switzerland (French-speaking)
- More formal: "Comment allez-vous?" used more often than France
- "Ça va?" still common among friends
- Some unique vocab but greetings similar to France
🇨🇦 Quebec (Canadian French)
- Different: "Ça va-tu?" (adding -tu is Quebecois)
- Also: "Comment ça va?" more common than "Ça va?"
- Very different pronunciation but same phrases understood
Conclusion: Master French Social Greetings
Understanding how to ask "How are you?" in French is about more than memorizing phrases—it's about social intelligence. Using "tu" vs. "vous" correctly shows cultural competence and respect.
Golden rules:
- ✅ Start formal ("Comment allez-vous?") with strangers
- ✅ Use casual ("Ça va?") once on "tu" terms
- ✅ Wait for invitation before switching to "tu"
- ✅ Match the other person's formality level
- ✅ When in doubt, be more formal
Most importantly, don't stress perfection. French people appreciate foreigners making the effort to speak French, even with mistakes. A friendly "Ça va?" with a smile goes a long way.
Bonne chance! (Good luck!)
LinguaLive's AI French Tutor offers judgment-free practice for French greetings, pronunciation coaching for nasal vowels and the French R, and cultural context for tu vs. vous situations. Practice realistic conversations where you actually use these phrases—30 minutes free daily, no credit card required.
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