Dictionary / French / I'm good
How to Say "I'm good" in French
Je vais bien
/ʒə vɛ bjɛ̃/
Literally: I go well
Je
I
vais
go
bien
well
Good to know
In everyday speech, ça va is the most common answer: ça va ? oui, ça va. To turn something down, I'm good is non merci, ça va. Je suis bien means I feel comfortable, as in je suis bien ici. Among friends in France, tranquille and ça roule are casual answers. In Quebec, je suis correct is a common way to say I'm fine. To ask back, say et toi ? to a friend and et vous ? to someone you call vous. When someone asks how something went, c'était bien means it was good.
Correct
Je vais bien
What people say wrong
Je suis bon
I'm good at something, or I'm a good person
The mistake to avoid. In English, I'm good can mean I'm doing well. Je suis bon does not. It means I'm good at something, as in je suis bon en maths, or it describes a good, kind person. With nothing after it, it sounds like you are praising yourself. For a woman, je suis bonne is riskier still, because bonne about a person can be crude slang for sexually attractive. French talks about how you are with aller, to go: je vais bien. Bien never changes for gender, so it is safe for everyone.
In context
Ça va ? Oui, ça va, et toi ?
How are you? I'm good, and you?
Je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?
I'm good, thank you. And you?
Tu veux encore du café ? Non merci, ça va.
Do you want more coffee? No thanks, I'm good.