Ça marche

Essential French Expression

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Meaning	ok, that works (in a restaurant) coming up
Literally	that runs
Register	normal / informal
Pronunciation		[sah marsh]
IPA		[sa maʀʃ]

Usage notes: Ça marche is a handy little expression that you can use to acknowledge or agree with someone.

Par exemple…

– On va partir à midi. – Ça marche !		– We’re leaving at noon. – That works!
– Il faut que tu apportes du vin. – Ça marche !		– You need to bring some wine. – OK!
– On peut parler ici. – Ça marche.		– We can talk here. – OK, that works.

You can use it with the preposition pour:

Par exemple…

Ça marche pour la semaine prochaine.		Next week is fine, Next week works.
Ça marche pour toi ?		Does that work for you?

When you place an order, waiters and store clerks might acknowledge it with ça marche:

Par exemple…

– Je vais prendre les pâtes, s’il vous plaît. – Ça marche.		– I’ll have the pasta, please. – That works, Coming right up.
– Je veux commander ce livre. – Ça marche.		– I’d like to order this book. – You got it.

Ça marche can also be used literally:

Par exemple…

Comment ça marche ?		How does it work?
Ça marche à la vapeur.		It works / runs on steam.

 Related lessons

• Marcher conjugations
• Ça and other indefinite demonstrative pronouns
• Many ways to say “yes” in French

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