French Phrase
Salut ! Ça va ?
Meaning
A friendly, informal way to say “Hi! How are you?” in French. The greeting is brief and the question can be answered with a simple “Ça va” (I’m fine) or a longer response.
When to use
Use with people you know well—friends, classmates, coworkers you’re close to, or anyone you’d address with “tu”. It’s not appropriate for strangers, elders you don’t know, or business meetings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Salut!Çava?
Salut (informal greeting)
Used among friends, family, or peers; it’s the casual equivalent of “hi”. Avoid in formal or professional settings.
Ça (demonstrative pronoun)
Literally “that”, but in the expression “ça va” it functions as a neutral subject meaning “things”.
va (present of aller)
The third‑person singular of the verb “aller” (to go) is used idiomatically to ask “how are you?”
No inversion
Unlike formal questions, “Ça va?” does not invert the subject and verb; the intonation alone signals a question.
🗨In Conversation
Salut ! Ça va ?
Hi! How are you?
Ça va, merci. Et toi ?
I’m good, thanks. And you?
✕Common Mistakes
Ça vas ?
The verb “aller” in the third‑person singular is “va”, not “vas”.
Ca va ?
Missing the cedilla under the “c” changes the pronunciation; it should be “Ça”.
Salut, comment ça va ?
While not wrong, pairing the informal “Salut” with the more formal “comment ça va” can sound mismatched; choose either fully informal or fully neutral.
↔Alternatives
Bonjour ! Comment ça va ?
Hello! How are you?
Salut, ça roule ?
Hey, everything good?
Hey, ça va ?
Hey, how’s it going?
Cultural Tip
In France, “Salut” signals a relaxed relationship; if you’re meeting someone for the first time in a professional context, start with “Bonjour”. Also, “Ça va ?” can be used as a statement (“Ça va.”) meaning “I’m fine”, so tone of voice is key to convey the question.