Ça alors

Ça alors, c'est formidable !
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Informal French Expression

Meaning how about that, my goodness
Literally that then
Register informal
Pronunciation French sound files [sah ah luhr]
IPA   [sa a lɔʀ]

 Don’t contract the two words into [sa lɔʀ] – both a’s must be pronounced separately with a tiny pause between them.

Usage notes: Ça alors is an exclamative French phrase that can indicate any of a variety of medium-strong reactions: pleasure, incredulity, indignation, etc. It doesn’t really mean anything in and of itself, but rather draws attention to what comes next, or reacts to what was just said.

Par exemple…

– Nous allons faire le tour du monde.
– Ça alors, c’est formidable !
  – We’re going to take a trip around the world.
– How about that! / Hey, that’s great! 
– La femme de Christian l’a viré.
– Ça alors, je lui avait dit d’arrêter ses aventures !
  – Christian’s wife kicked him out.
– Well, really, I told him to stop fooling around!
Ça alors ! Je n’ai jamais vu une voiture si compliquée.   My goodness! I’ve never seen such a complicated car.

 Somewhat synonymous

 Share / Tweet / Pin Me!

Ça alors

Questions about French?

 Visit the Progress with Lawless French Q+A forum to get help from native French speakers and fellow learners.

More Lawless French

 Subscribe to my twice-weekly newsletter.

Support Lawless French

  This free website is created with love and a great deal of work.

If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation.

Your support is entirely optional but tremendously appreciated.

Leave a Reply