Expressing how you feel

Asking how someone is and responding to the same question are common parts of everyday conversation in French.

You can give a general answer, name a specific feeling or emotion, or add a little more information when you want to explain how you are.

Asking how someone is

Comment ça va ? is a common general question about how someone is doing:

Ça va ? is common in casual conversation. Comment tu te sens ? asks more directly about how someone feels.

Giving a general answer

You can answer Comment ça va ? without naming a specific feeling:

You can return the question with Et toi ? or Et vous ?:

Naming a feeling or emotion

When you want to be more specific, you can use the vocabulary for physical feelings and emotions:

The expression you use depends on the feeling. Some use être, while others use avoir.

Saying how strongly you feel

Words such as très and un peu let you give a little more information:

For example:

Giving a reason

Use parce que when you want to explain why you feel a certain way:

You do not need to explain every answer. A short Ça va or Je suis fatigué is often enough.

From learning to practice

The next time someone asks how you are, think beyond Ça va bien. Try giving a more specific answer in French, then add très, un peu, or a short reason with parce que.