French Phrase
Je voulais savoir où ça en est.
Meaning
This phrase is used to politely inquire about the current status or progress of something. It implies a desire for an update on a situation, project, or task that has been previously discussed or initiated. It's a common way to ask "How's it going?" or "What's the progress?" in a more specific context.
When to use
You would use this phrase in various situations, such as checking on the progress of a work project, asking a friend about a plan you made, or inquiring about the status of an application. It's generally polite and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though the use of the imperfect tense "voulais" makes it softer and more indirect than "je veux savoir".
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jevoulaissavoiroùçaenest
Je voulais
This is the imperfect tense of 'vouloir' (to want). Using the imperfect ('voulais') instead of the present ('veux') makes the request more polite and less direct, which is common in French for softening inquiries.
savoir
This is the infinitive verb 'to know'. In French, after verbs like 'vouloir' (to want) or 'aimer' (to like) that express desire or intention, another verb often follows in its infinitive form.
où ça en est
This is an idiomatic expression meaning 'where it's at' or 'what its status is'. 'Où' means 'where', 'ça' means 'it', and 'en est' refers to the state or progress of something, with 'en' replacing 'de cela' (of that).
🗨In Conversation
Bonjour Marie, je voulais savoir où ça en est avec le rapport.
Hello Marie, I wanted to know where we're at with the report.
Bonjour Pierre, il est presque terminé, je te l'envoie cet après-midi.
Hello Pierre, it's almost finished, I'll send it to you this afternoon.
✕Common Mistakes
Je voulais savoir où ça est.
"En est" is a fixed idiomatic expression meaning "its status" or "its progress." "Où ça est" is grammatically incorrect in this context and doesn't convey the same meaning.
Je voulais savoir le statut de ça.
While understandable, "où ça en est" is the more natural and idiomatic way to ask for status or progress in French. Direct translation often sounds less natural.
↔Alternatives
Où en est le projet ?
Where is the project at?
Comment ça avance ?
How is it progressing?
Quel est le statut ?
What is the status?
Y a-t-il du nouveau ?
Is there anything new?
Cultural Tip
Using the imperfect tense "voulais" instead of the present "veux" makes the request more polite and less demanding in French. This indirectness is a common feature of polite requests, especially in professional settings or when you want to avoid sounding too pushy. It shows consideration for the other person's time and situation.