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French expression of the day: Ça ira

The Local France
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French expression of the day: Ça ira
Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash/Nicolas Raymond"

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

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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.

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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.

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Anonymous 2020/06/08 15:25
"ça ira" is what you say when they ask you if you want anything else at the boulangerie or similar store/counter.

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