We all have those moments when we need to reassure someone, or simply acknowledge that things are fine. In English, a simple "it's okay" often does the trick. But what about in French? As you delve deeper into the language, you'll discover that there's more than one way to express this common sentiment. Let's explore 9 different ways to say "it's okay" in French, so you'll always have the perfect phrase at your fingertips!

The simple and versatile 'it's good/okay' – C'est bon

The simple and versatile “it’s good/okay” – C’est bon

C'est bon is one of the most common and versatile phrases in French, essential for expressing approval, satisfaction, or completion.

At its heart, C'est bon translates to “it’s good” or “it’s okay,” but its meaning can subtly shift based on context.

Most famously, you'll hear C'est bon used to describe food or drink that tastes good. If you enjoy a meal, this is your go-to phrase.

Beyond taste, C'est bon can signify “that’s fine,” “that’s enough,” or “okay.” It's used to confirm understanding, give approval, or indicate sufficiency.

It also frequently means “it’s ready” or “it’s done,” particularly when referring to tasks, preparations, or a state of readiness.

It's vital not to confuse C'est bon with il est bon or elle est bonne when referring to people. While C'est bon generally means “it’s good,” il est bon or elle est bonne when applied to a person can often have a sexual connotation, meaning “he’s good in bed” or “she’s hot.” Always use C'est bon for general approval, and il est bien / elle est bien for “he/she is a good person” to avoid awkward situations.

From a delicious meal to a completed task or a simple agreement, C'est bon is an indispensable phrase for daily communication in French. Its simplicity belies its broad utility.

💡 * C'est bon, ce gâteau ! (This cake is good!)

Tu peux partir maintenant, c'est bon. (You can leave now, it's fine.)

Le dîner est prêt, c'est bon ! (Dinner is ready, it's done!)

C'est bon, ne m'en mets pas plus. (That's enough, don't give me any more.)

Ah, c'est bon de te revoir ! (Ah, it's good to see you again!)

The common 'no problem' – Pas de problème

In French, one of the most common and versatile ways to say 'no problem' or 'it's not a problem' is Pas de problème.

This phrase is widely used in informal, everyday conversations, whether you're responding to a 'thank you,' confirming an agreement, or reassuring someone that a minor inconvenience is perfectly fine.

Interestingly, Pas de problème is an example of spoken French where the negative particle ne is often omitted. The full grammatical form would be Il n'y a pas de problème (There is no problem), but in casual speech, Pas de problème is perfectly acceptable and very common.

While Pas de problème is ubiquitous, other phrases like De rien (You're welcome), Il n'y a pas de souci (No worries), or Avec plaisir (With pleasure) can also be used depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Its widespread use makes Pas de problème an essential phrase for sounding natural in French. It conveys a sense of ease and willingness, making interactions smoother and more friendly.

For more formal situations, especially when responding to a thank you, Je vous en prie or De rien might be preferred. However, Pas de problème is rarely out of place in informal settings and is universally understood.

💡 * Merci de m'avoir aidé. - Pas de problème ! (Thanks for helping me. - No problem!)

Tu peux me prêter ton stylo ? - Oui, pas de problème. (Can you lend me your pen? - Yes, no problem.)

Désolé d'être en retard. - Pas de problème, tu n'es pas le seul. (Sorry for being late. - No problem, you're not the only one.)

On se voit à 18h ? - Pas de problème ! (Shall we meet at 6 PM? - No problem!)

The ubiquitous 'it's going well/I'm fine/it's okay' – Ça va

The phrase Ça va is one of the most fundamental and versatile expressions in French, literally meaning 'it goes' but translating to a wide range of common English phrases like 'How are you?', 'I'm fine', or 'It's okay'.

What makes Ça va so ubiquitous is its dual function: it can be both a question ('How are you?') and an answer ('I'm fine'). This makes it a cornerstone of everyday French conversation.

Ça va is an informal expression, widely used among friends, family, and in casual settings. While not strictly formal, it's so common that you'll hear it everywhere, even in situations where Comment allez-vous? might be technically more appropriate but sounds stiff.

When used as a statement, Ça va is the go-to phrase to indicate that things are going well, or that you are feeling good. It's a simple, direct way to convey a positive status without much elaboration.

Beyond personal well-being, Ça va can also mean 'it's okay' or 'that's fine' in response to a suggestion or situation. For instance, if someone asks if you mind doing something, Ça va can be a simple affirmative.

When asked Ça va? you can respond with Ça va (I'm fine), Oui, ça va (Yes, I'm fine), Ça va bien (It's going well), or Ça ne va pas (It's not going well) if things are bad.

💡 * Salut, ça va ? (Hi, how are you?)

Oui, ça va, merci. (Yes, I'm fine, thanks.)

Non, ça ne va pas très bien aujourd'hui. (No, I'm not doing very well today.)

On se voit à 18h, ça va ? (We'll see each other at 6 PM, is that okay?)

Le film est déjà commencé, ça va ? (The movie has already started, is that okay?)

The reassuring 'no worries' – Il n'y a pas de souci

The reassuring 'no worries' – Il n'y a pas de souci

Il n'y a pas de souci directly translates to 'there is no problem' or 'there is no worry', and it's a very common way to say 'no worries' or 'no problem' in French.

This phrase is widely used to reassure someone, confirm something is fine, or acknowledge a thank you with a casual 'you're welcome'. It conveys a friendly, relaxed, and helpful tone, much like 'no worries' in English.

Often, you'll hear it shortened to simply Pas de souci, especially in informal conversations. Both forms are perfectly acceptable and mean the same thing.

💡 * Merci de m'avoir aidé. - Il n'y a pas de souci !

Désolé pour le retard. - Pas de souci, j'ai le temps.

Est-ce que tu peux faire ça ? - Oui, pas de souci.

Ne t'inquiète pas, il n'y a pas de souci.

The all-encompassing 'everything's fine' – Tout va bien

The all-encompassing 'everything's fine' – Tout va bien

Tout va bien is a ubiquitous French phrase that directly translates to 'everything's fine' or 'all is well.'

It's one of the most common and versatile expressions you'll hear in France, used to convey a general sense of well-being, absence of problems, or successful progress.

Most frequently, you'll use tout va bien as a simple and reassuring answer when someone asks you 'How are you?' (Comment ça va? or Ça va?).

Beyond personal well-being, it can also be used to indicate that a situation or project is proceeding smoothly, or that there are no issues to worry about.

Its simplicity makes it highly effective, serving as a go-to phrase for positive affirmation in various contexts.

💡 * Comment ça va ? — Tout va bien, merci !

Ne t'inquiète pas, tout va bien se passer.

Le projet avance bien, tout va bien.

Après la pluie, le beau temps, et maintenant tout va bien.

Est-ce que tu as réussi ton examen ? — Oui, tout va bien !

The dismissive 'it's nothing' (often after an apology) – Ce n'est rien

The French phrase Ce n'est rien directly translates to "it is nothing" or "it's not a big deal." It's a versatile expression used to minimize the importance of something, often to reassure someone.

One of its most common and crucial uses is after someone has apologized for a minor mistake or inconvenience. By saying Ce n'est rien, you are essentially telling them "don't worry about it," "no harm done," or "it's fine." It's a polite way to dismiss their apology and show that you're not bothered.

Beyond apologies, Ce n'est rien can also be used when someone thanks you for a small favor, or if a minor accident occurs (e.g., someone bumps into you lightly). It conveys that the situation is trivial and doesn't require further attention or concern.

The underlying sentiment of Ce n'est rien is one of reassurance. It's meant to put the other person at ease, signaling that whatever happened, or whatever they're thanking you for, is genuinely insignificant and has no negative impact.

While Ce n'est rien can sometimes feel like "you're welcome" in context, it's more specific. De rien is a direct response to "thank you." Ce n'est rien is broader; it can be a response to an apology or a thank you, always emphasizing the insignificance of the matter. It implies "it's nothing to me."

💡 * Oh, pardon, je suis en retard ! Ce n'est rien, j'arrive à peine. (Oh, sorry, I'm late! It's nothing, I just arrived.)

Merci beaucoup de m'avoir aidé ! Oh, ce n'est rien ! (Thank you very much for helping me! Oh, it's nothing!)

Je suis désolé, j'ai renversé un peu d'eau. Ce n'est rien, ne t'inquiète pas. (I'm sorry, I spilled a little water. It's nothing, don't worry.)

Tu peux me passer le sel ? Bien sûr. Tiens. Merci ! Ce n'est rien. (Can you pass me the salt? Of course. Here you go. Thanks! It's nothing.)

The comforting 'don't worry' (informal/formal) – Ne t'inquiète pas / Ne vous inquiétez pas

The phrase "don't worry" is a fundamental expression of comfort and reassurance. In French, there are two primary ways to say this, depending on the level of formality and the person you are addressing: Ne t'inquiète pas and Ne vous inquiétez pas.

You use Ne t'inquiète pas when speaking to someone informally, such as a friend, family member, child, or anyone with whom you would use the singular tu. This is the most common way to offer reassurance in casual settings.

Conversely, Ne vous inquiétez pas is employed in formal contexts or when addressing multiple people. This includes situations where you would use the formal vous, like speaking to a stranger, a superior, or a group of individuals.

💡 * Ne t'inquiète pas, tout va bien se passer. (Don't worry, everything will be fine.)

Ne vous inquiétez pas, Monsieur, je m'en occupe. (Don't worry, Sir, I'll take care of it.)

Ne t'inquiète pas pour ton examen, tu es bien préparé. (Don't worry about your exam, you are well-prepared.)

S'il vous plaît, ne vous inquiétez pas pour le retard. (Please, don't worry about the delay.)

Ne t'inquiète pas, je suis là pour toi. (Don't worry, I'm here for you.)

The 'it's not serious/it doesn't matter' – Ce n'est pas grave

The 'it's not serious/it doesn't matter' – Ce n'est pas grave

The versatile French expression Ce n'est pas grave literally translates to 'It is not serious.' However, its usage extends beyond just seriousness, making it a crucial phrase for everyday conversations.

Most commonly, you'll hear Ce n'est pas grave when someone wants to reassure you that a situation or problem isn't a big deal. For example, if you spill a little coffee, someone might say this to ease your concern.

Beyond literal seriousness, Ce n'est pas grave also functions to convey 'It doesn't matter' or 'It's okay.' This makes it a polite way to accept an apology or dismiss a minor inconvenience, indicating there are no hard feelings.

💡 *Désolé, j'ai oublié ton livre. Ce n'est pas grave, je peux le récupérer demain. (Sorry, I forgot your book. It's not serious/It's okay, I can pick it up tomorrow.)
*J'ai fait une petite erreur. Ce n'est pas grave, ça arrive à tout le monde. (I made a small mistake. It's not serious/It doesn't matter, it happens to everyone.)
*Le train est en retard de cinq minutes. Ce n'est pas grave, j'ai le temps. (The train is five minutes late. It's not serious/It's okay, I have time.)
*Tu n'as pas pu venir à la fête ? Ce n'est pas grave, on se verra une autre fois. (You couldn't come to the party? It's not serious/It doesn't matter, we'll see each other another time.)

The informal 'that works/that's fine' – Ça marche

The French phrase "Ça marche" directly translates to "that works" or "it works." It's an incredibly common and versatile expression used in everyday conversation.

One of the most frequent uses of "Ça marche" is to express agreement or confirmation, similar to saying "that's fine," "okay," or "sounds good" in English. It's perfect for responding to a suggestion, a plan, or a proposed time.

"Ça marche" can also be used to indicate that something is functioning correctly, whether it's a machine, a system, or even a plan. It confirms that an object or an idea is operational or effective.

It's important to note that "Ça marche" is an informal expression. While widely used among friends, family, and colleagues in casual settings, it might be less appropriate in very formal contexts where a more structured phrase like "C'est d'accord" (It's agreed) or "Cela convient" (That is suitable) might be preferred.

💡 * Rendez-vous à 18h ? Ça marche ! (Meet at 6 PM? That works!)

Mon ordinateur ne marchait pas, mais maintenant ça marche. (My computer wasn't working, but now it works.)

On peut faire ça demain ? Oui, ça marche. (Can we do that tomorrow? Yes, that works.)

La nouvelle stratégie, ça marche bien pour l'instant. (The new strategy is working well for now.)

Ton idée, ça marche parfaitement ! (Your idea works perfectly!)

Are there other ways to say 'it's okay' in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say 'it's okay' in French. But the French language is rich with nuances, and you'll find other expressions, from more formal ones to regional variations and even contemporary slang that convey similar sentiments.

To explore further, you can do an online search for 'comment dire ça va en ___' followed by a specific Francophone country or region, or search for 'synonymes de ça va' or 'expressions pour dire que tout va bien'.

You might find some interesting alternatives for 'it's okay' in your research. As always, make sure to check a word or phrase’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it yourself, to ensure it fits the situation.

Pay close attention as you read, watch, and listen to French media — you may discover various subtle ways to express that something is acceptable, fine, or alright.

For a deeper dive into expressions related to well-being, acceptance, or agreement, the WordReference entry for bien or aller can be an excellent starting point, offering many related phrases and their contexts.

I hope you found this article helpful in navigating the various ways to say 'it's okay' in French. To leave you with a thought, here's a quote that reminds us of simplicity: La vie est simple. C'est nous qui la compliquons. (Life is simple. It's us who complicate it.) Sometimes, 'it's okay' is all we need to say.

9 ways to say "it's okay" in French