The usual way of asking "how are you?" to someone in French is to ask, “comment allez-vous?” However, there is more than one way to ask it, and more than one way to respond to and re-ask a question. Here are some of the most helpful and commonly used methods.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Asking Questions
Step 1. Ask politely, "Comment allez-vous?
This is a common phrase used to ask someone's condition. This phrase can be used in any situation, but is most often used in official situations, with strangers, and elders.
- The correct pronunciation of the phrase is kom-mohn tay-lay voo.
- Comment means how.
- Allez is the conjugated form of the verb aller, meaning to go.
- Vous means you.
- A more literal translation of this phrase is, “How did you go?”
Step 2. Ask friends and family, "Comment a va?
This phrase is a less formal, more casual way of asking how someone is doing, so it should only be used with people you know closely.
- This phrase is roughly pronounced, koh-mohn sah vah.
- Comment means how.
- Va is another conjugated form of the verb aller, meaning to go.
- Meanwhile, a has the meaning of the pronoun.
- A more literal translation is, “How did it go?”
Step 3. Shorten the question to "Ça va?
"A very informal way of asking "how are you?" is to ask, “ça va?”
- Pronounce the question as valid vah.
- A more literal translation is “did it go away?” This phrase, however, is almost the same as asking someone, "What's wrong?"
Step 4. Change it to "Comment vas-tu?
Although it is almost the same as a formal phrase, a polite form of question, it is used in casual situations among friends.
- Pronounce this question as koh-mohn vah too.
- Comment means how, vas is the conjugated form of the verb aller, and tu is an informal way of saying you.
- Translated literally, the question becomes, "How are you going?"
Method 2 of 3: Responding to Questions
Step 1. Respond positively with "bien
The term "bien" means "good." You can use this term alone to say that you are fine, but it is also commonly used as part of a phrase.
- Say the term, bee-ehn.
- "Je vais bien" is a longer response, meaning, "I'm fine."
- "Très bien" means "very good."
- "Bien, merci" means "well, thank you."
- "Tout va bien" means "all is well."
- "Assez bien" means "good enough."
Step 2. Respond negatively with “mal
As a positive term, mall is often used alone. It means "bad."
- Mal is pronounced mahl.
- You can also use the term in a longer phrase, "Je vais mal," to mean, "I have bad news" or "I am in bad shape."
Step 3. Use "Comme-ci comme-ca" if your situation is somewhere between good and bad
This phrase is the same as saying "normal" in Indonesian.
Pronounce the phrase as kum-see, kum-sah."
Method 3 of 3: Asking Questions Back
Step 1. Ask politely, "Et vous?
This question can be used to ask how someone is doing after that person has asked you first and you have responded.
- Et means and.
- This question translates literally to, "And you?"
- You can use this question for anyone and in any situation, but it is usually used in formal situations or with strangers and elders.
Step 2. Ask friends and family, "Et toi?
This question is also used to ask someone's condition after the person has asked you first.
- Toi is an informal way of saying you.
- This question is used in casual, informal situations. Only use with friends and family.
