French for Beginners: Replying to a Greeting and Asking 'And You?'
Learn short natural French replies to greetings and follow-up questions like Et toi ? and Et vous ?, so you can keep a simple conversation going after someone says bonjour.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
When someone greets you in French, the conversation does not end with your first word. This lesson focuses on the reply turn: how to answer Ça va ? or Comment vas-tu ? briefly and naturally, then return the question with Et toi ? or Et vous ?. You will practise fixed expressions that French speakers actually use, learn when to choose tu or vous, and see how intonation changes a reply into a question.
By the end, you can…
- reply briefly and naturally when someone asks how I am.
- return the question with Et toi ? or Et vous ?.
- choose between tu and vous appropriately in a short exchange.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
I'm well, thanks. And you?
sah vah byɛ̃, mair-SEE. ay twah?
Standard friendly reply to Ça va ? Use toi with friends, family, classmates and people your own age.
Ça va, merci. Et vous ?
I'm fine, thanks. And you?
sah vah, mair-SEE. ay voo?
The polite or plural form. Use vous with strangers, older people, shopkeepers and anyone you address formally.
Pas mal, et toi ?
Not bad, and you?
pah mal, ay twah?
A relaxed, slightly understated answer. Common among friends when things are fine but you do not want to sound too enthusiastic.
Très bien, merci. Et toi ?
Very well, thanks. And you?
tray byɛ̃, mair-SEE. ay twah?
A positive, clear reply. Suitable in most informal situations and easy to say with a smile.
Comme ci comme ça. Et toi ?
So-so. And you?
kum see kum SAH. ay twah?
Use when things are neither good nor bad. It is informal; with vous, say Et vous ? instead.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Most beginner replies follow a simple pattern: a short state + merci + Et toi ? or Et vous ?. For example, Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ? or Pas mal, merci. Et vous ? The word merci softens the reply, and the follow-up question hands the conversation back. You can also answer with just Ça va. or Très bien. if the situation is quick, but adding Et toi ? makes you sound engaged rather than abrupt.
When to use it
Choose toi when you would use tu with the person: friends, family, children, students, colleagues you know well. Choose vous when you would use vous: strangers, older people, officials, or more than one person. If someone says Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? answer with Et vous ?, not Et toi ?. If they say Salut, ça va ? answer with Et toi ?. Matching their choice of tu or vous is the safest beginner strategy.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Salut ! Ça va ?
Hi! How are you?sah-LOO! sah vah?Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
I'm well, thanks. And you?sah vah byɛ̃, mair-SEE. ay twah?Pas mal, merci. Tu es occupé aujourd'hui ?
Not bad, thanks. Are you busy today?pah mal, mair-SEE. tew ay oh-kew-PAY oh-zhoor-DWEE?Oui, un peu. Et toi ?
Yes, a little. And you?wee, œ̃ puh. ay twah?A little context goes a long way
In France, bonjour is often expected before any request, and a short reply plus Et vous ? is a polite way to keep the exchange going. In Québec, Bonjour, comment ça va ? and the reply Ça va bien, merci, et toi ? are also very common. Tu is normal among students and colleagues of similar age, but vous remains safer with strangers until they invite tu.
One thing to watch for
Answering Et vous ? when the other person used tu, or answering Et toi ? to someone who used vous.
Try this instead: Match the pronoun the other person used. If they say Salut, ça va ? reply Et toi ?; if they say Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? reply Et vous ?. Mixing them can sound either too familiar or oddly distant.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Someone says: Salut, ça va ? Give a short natural reply and return the question.
Show a sample answer
Ça va bien, merci. Et toi ?
This works because it answers briefly, thanks the person, and returns the question with the informal toi, matching Salut. Très bien, merci. Et toi ? is also correct.
2A shopkeeper says: Bonjour, comment allez-vous ? Reply politely and return the question.
Show a sample answer
Ça va, merci. Et vous ?
Vous matches the shopkeeper's formal allez-vous. Pas mal, merci. Et vous ? would also be acceptable, though slightly less positive.
3You feel neither good nor bad. Give an informal reply to a friend and return the question.
Show a sample answer
Comme ci comme ça. Et toi ?
Comme ci comme ça expresses a neutral state, and Et toi ? keeps the informal register. Pas mal, et toi ? is a valid alternative if you want to sound a little more positive.
Reply briefly with a state plus merci, then return the question with Et toi ? or Et vous ?, matching the other person's choice of tu or vous.
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