French for Confirming Plans: Saying 'That Works for Me' and 'Sounds Good'
Learn French phrases to confirm plans during a negotiation, such as 'Ça me va' and 'Ça marche', and distinguish them from accepting an invitation.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When you're making plans with someone in French, you often need to confirm that a suggested time or arrangement works for you. This is different from simply accepting an invitation. In a negotiation, you might say 'Ça me va' (That works for me) or 'Ça marche' (That works). This lesson teaches you these key phrases and how to use them naturally in conversation.
By the end, you can…
- confirm that a proposed plan works for me using 'Ça me va' or 'Ça marche'.
- respond positively to a suggestion with 'Ça me va très bien' or 'D'accord'.
- distinguish between confirming a plan and accepting an invitation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ça me va.
That works for me.
sah muh vah
Use when you agree to a proposed time or arrangement. It implies personal suitability.
Ça marche.
That works. / Sounds good.
sah marsh
Informal and common in conversation. It confirms that a plan is acceptable.
D'accord.
Okay. / Agreed.
dah-kor
General agreement. Can be used to accept an invitation or confirm a plan.
Ça me va très bien.
That works very well for me.
sah muh vah tray byan
Emphasizes that the plan is not just acceptable but very convenient.
Pas de problème.
No problem.
pah duh proh-blem
Shows willingness and agreement. Often used to confirm that a suggestion is fine.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The phrase 'Ça me va' literally means 'That goes for me' and is used to say that something suits you. You can intensify it with 'très bien': 'Ça me va très bien.' For a more general 'that works', use 'Ça marche', which is informal and common in everyday speech. Both are used to confirm plans, not to accept invitations. For example, if someone suggests 'On se voit à 18h ?' (Shall we meet at 6 pm?), you can reply 'Ça me va' or 'Ça marche'.
When to use it
Use these phrases during the negotiation of plans, when you are discussing and agreeing on details like time, place, or activity. They are not typically used to accept a formal invitation. For instance, if a friend asks 'Tu veux venir à ma fête ?' (Do you want to come to my party?), you would accept with 'Oui, avec plaisir' or 'Oui, je veux bien', not 'Ça me va'. 'Ça me va' is for when the plan is being decided together, such as 'On se retrouve devant le cinéma à 20h ?' – 'Ça me va.'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
On pourrait se voir samedi après-midi pour réviser ?
We could meet Saturday afternoon to study?on poo-reh suh vwahr sahm-dee ah-preh-mee-dee poor reh-vee-zaySamedi après-midi ? Ça me va. Vers quelle heure ?
Saturday afternoon? That works for me. Around what time?sahm-dee ah-preh-mee-dee? sah muh vah. vair kel ur?Disons 14h à la bibliothèque.
Let's say 2 pm at the library.dee-zon kah-torz ah la bee-blee-oh-tekÇa marche. À samedi !
That works. See you Saturday!sah marsh. ah sahm-dee!A little context goes a long way
In French conversation, confirming plans often involves a back-and-forth. 'Ça me va' and 'Ça marche' are neutral to informal and widely used in France. In more formal situations, you might say 'Cela me convient' (That suits me). In Quebec, 'Ça fait mon affaire' is common for 'That works for me'. Be aware that 'Ça marche' can also mean 'It works' literally, but context makes the meaning clear.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Ça me va' to accept an invitation, as in 'Tu veux dîner avec nous ?' – 'Ça me va.'
Try this instead: For invitations, use 'Oui, avec plaisir' or 'Oui, je veux bien'. 'Ça me va' is for confirming a plan that is being negotiated. For example, if someone suggests a specific time, then 'Ça me va' is appropriate.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend suggests: 'On se retrouve à 10h devant la gare ?' How do you confirm that this works for you?
Show a sample answer
Ça me va.
This confirms that the proposed time and place suit you. 'Ça marche' is also correct. Both are appropriate for confirming a plan.
2Which phrase would you use to accept an invitation to a party?
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Oui, avec plaisir.
This accepts the invitation politely. 'Ça me va' would be less appropriate because it's for negotiating plans, not accepting invitations.
3How would you say 'That works very well for me' in French?
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Ça me va très bien.
This emphasizes that the plan is very convenient. 'Ça me va' without 'très bien' is also correct but less emphatic.
Use 'Ça me va' or 'Ça marche' to confirm that a proposed plan works for you during a negotiation. Remember that these are not used to accept invitations; for that, use 'Oui, avec plaisir' or 'Oui, je veux bien'.
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