How Do You Say 'How Are You?' in French?

There are a few ways to ask "How are you?" in French, and which you use depends on how formal the situation is.

The main options:

• "Comment ça va ?" (koh-mahn sah vah) — the most common, casual/neutral way. Works with friends, family, and most everyday situations.
• "Ça va ?" (sah vah) — a very casual, shortened version, like "You good?" or "How's it going?" among friends.
• "Comment allez-vous ?" (koh-mahn tah-lay voo) — the formal/polite version, used with strangers, elders, in professional settings, or with anyone you'd address as vous.
• "Comment vas-tu ?" (koh-mahn vah tew) — a slightly more formal-than-ça va version using the informal tu, for one person you know.

How to reply:

• "Ça va bien, merci." — "I'm good, thanks."
• "Ça va." — "I'm okay." (The same phrase answers and asks.)
• "Très bien, et toi ?" — "Very well, and you?" (informal)
• "Très bien, et vous ?" — "Very well, and you?" (formal)
• "Pas mal." — "Not bad."
• "Comme ci, comme ça." — "So-so."

Quick tip: "Ça va" is wonderfully flexible — it can be a question ("Ça va ?") and an answer ("Ça va."). When in doubt in a casual setting, it's your safest, most natural choice. Use "Comment allez-vous ?" to be polite and respectful.