COPY LINK

For members

FRENCH WORD OF THE DAY

French expression of the day: Ça ira

Good or bad, rainy or sunny - this is one of those French expressions that you can use on basically any occasion.

Published: 8 June 2020 11:49 CEST

French expression of the day: Ça ira

Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond

Why do I need to know ça ira?

Because it very common thing to say, but it's also a super easy way to up your regular ça va-game.

What does it mean?

Ça ira literally translates to ‘it will go’, but it’s really a ça va for the future.

Ça ira, like ça va, changes its meaning depending on the context. It can mean everything from 'it's ok', 'I'm fine', to 'you good?' etc.

If you've been in France for a while, you will know that French people use ça va more frequently than they change their underwear.

So if you know how to use ça va, you can easily use ça ira . Literally the only difference is that you're using it for things or situations that haven't occurred yet.

Use it like this

Je vais faire quelques courses à Carrefour. Ok, tu veux que je vienne avec toi ou ça ira ? – I'm going to get some groceries at Carrefour. Ok, you want me to come with or will you manage?

On va dîner à 20h, ça ira ? – We'll eat at 8pm, is that ok?

Non, t'inquètes pas. Si on est cinq pour l'aider à déménager ça ira. – No, don't worry. If we're five to help her move it'll be fine.

J'ai trois bouteilles de vin, je pense que ça ira. – I have three bottles of wine, I think it'll be enough.

Synonyms

Another way of saying ça ira is ça va aller, which is the same just a different future tense.

Member comments

Scott - 8 June 2020 at 15:25 CEST

“ça ira” is what you say when they ask you if you want anything else at the boulangerie or similar store/counter.

Log in here to leave a comment.

Become a Member to leave a comment.

French Expression of the Day: La clim'

Why do I need to know la clim’?

Because the lack of green spaces in cities might find you looking desperately for fresh air.

What does it mean?

La clim’, pronounced la-cleem, means air conditioning, it is a shortened version of la climatisation.

Climatisation comes from the word climatiseur, which itself comes from Klima in Greek and means the inclination of planet Earth from the equator to the poles. This inclination of the planet on its axis is responsible for the seasons and if you find yourself in a French city in August your inclination will definitely be towards climatisation.

Air-conditioning in private homes is not common France, some hotels have it but not all and in the summer months restaurants will often advertise air-con if they have it, as a way of luring in hot-and-bothered tourists.

If you find yourself desperate for cool air, head to a supermarket – almost all French supermarkets are air-conditioned in the summer. Or for a more fun option just head to the nearest city fountain or water feature and join the locals who are splashing around to cool off.

Use it like this

Il fait très chaud, avez-vous la clim’ dans votre hotel ? – It’s really hot, do you have air-con in the hotel?

Je n’aime pas mettre la clim’ en route car cela est mauvais pour la santé et l’environnement – I don’t like turning on the AC, it’s bad for my health and for the environment

Il fait froid, peut-on s’il vous plait éteindre la clim’ ? – It’s cold, could we turn off the air-con?

La clim’ fait beaucoup de bruit, pouvons-nous la mettre en sourdine ? – This AC is really noisy, could we turn it down?

Synonyms

Un climatiseur – the formal name for an air-conditioner (in French the air conditioning is feminine by the air conditioner is masculine)

Un ventilateur – a ventilator

Un Brumisateur – a ‘fogger’ – these machines which pump out cool water vapour are often seen on the streets and in parks during the summer

Un Rafraichisseur d’air – an air freshener

Url copied to clipboard!