Ça y est = That's it, It's done

In: Level A1, Idioms, Idiomatic Usage, and Structures, Idiotismes avec être
Questions: 15

Look at these sentences:

Ça y est, elle a enfin réussi ses exams!
That's it, she finally passed her exams!

Tu as fini ton repas? - Oui, ça y est!
Have you finished your meal? - Yes, it's done!

Ça a pris du temps, mais ça y est, j'ai mes billets pour Mamma Mia!
It took time, but that's it, I've got my tickets for Mamma Mia!

 

In French, the expression "ça y est" (literally 'that is there') is used to emphasise a sense of relief after an action's been completed : that's it, it's done, finally!

 

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Idiotismes avec être

Examples and resources

Ça y est, elle a enfin réussi ses exams!
That's it, she finally passed her exams!

Ça a pris du temps, mais ça y est, j'ai mes billets pour Mamma Mia!
It took time, but that's it, I've got my tickets for Mamma Mia!

Tu as fini ton repas? - Oui, ça y est!
Have you finished your meal? - Yes, it's done!

Q&A

Rant

Kwiziq community member

11 May 2018

2 replies

restaurant

Would it be inappropriate to say 'ça y est' at a restaurant when they ask you if you have finished your meal? Or would that sound like you are saying it was difficult to finish, but I finally did it (perhaps being offensive)?

Chris

Kwiziq community member

12 May 2018

12/05/18

I don't think that would be an appropriate response, particularly since it is a kind of expression used when something you've been waiting for finally arrives. You could, maybe, use it in an impolite way when the waiter brings you the dish you have been long waiting for.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Cécile

Kwiziq language super star

14 May 2018

14/05/18

Hi Rant,

No, you wouldn't use 'ça y est' in a restaurant to say you have finished your meal , I would use 'c'est bon, merci'.

Hope this helps!

Paul

Kwiziq community member

25 September 2017

6 replies

Is there a past tense for "Ça y est" using "Ça y etais = That's it, It was done"

Laura

Kwiziq language super star

25 September 2017

25/09/17

Bonjour Paul, Yes. Since "est" is the third person singular of être, you can use this expression in any tense by conjugating être accordingly.

Ça y était (t at the end, not s)

Ça y a été

Ça y sera

etc.

Paul

Kwiziq community member

25 September 2017

25/09/17

That's very helpful Laura, thank you. I listen to French language radio everyday (from Quebec) and I hear something like "Ça y était" or "Ça a été" spoken frequently. Can you please help me understand their usage, and are they pronounced the same?

Laura

Kwiziq language super star

29 September 2017

29/09/17

They're not pronounced quite the same. Ça y était = [sa je te] Ça a été = [sa a e te] On their own, the meaning is very similar - it was ok, it worked out. I'll ask Aurélie, who is a native speaker, to respond in detail.

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

29 September 2017

29/09/17

Bonjour Paul ! Though you can technically conjugate this expression in past tenses (thanks Laura !), you will never really use it in other contexts than the present. Indeed, "ça y est" expresses some kind of immediate relief after an action been completed, hence its strong link with the present. You could possibly encounter "ça y était" in indirect speech, when reported someone's words, but none of the other forms would be used by a native (including the future). I hope that's helpful! Aurélie

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

29 September 2017

29/09/17

As for the nuance of meaning between "ça a été" and "ça y était", I must disagree, it's two different expressions, with different meanings and uses: - Like I said above, "ça y était", means either literally "it/this was there" or, just like "ça y est", it can mean "here it was/it was done/I was done" in a context of indirect speech. - "Ça a été" literally means "it's been/it was", and as a fixed expression is used to express "it's been ok/it was ok", like at the restaurant for example: Serveur: Ça a été ? (It's been fine? / How was it?) Client: Oui, très bien merci. I hope that's helpful! Bonne journée !

Paul

Kwiziq community member

29 September 2017

29/09/17

Thank you Aurélie and Laura for your helpful answers. I do remember being asked "ça y été" in restaurants in France. I shall listen more carefully to the radio and try to figure out the context.

Daniel

Kwiziq community member

24 August 2017

2 replies

There it is

I'm not a native english speaker, but isn't "there it is" (which is given as an incorrect option in the quiz) also used as an expression of relief, just like "finally" or "that's it" or "there you go", depending on the context?

Ron

Kwiziq community member

24 August 2017

24/08/17

Bonjour Daniel, In a word the answer is yes. For example, I am in the garage looking for an item. I spot the item and then I might say «there it is» and that would, indeed, be an expression of relief. J'espère que cela vous aiderait. Bonne chance.

Daniel

Kwiziq community member

29 August 2017

29/08/17

I made the same mistake again in this quiz. "Here it is" and "That's it" look like synonyms to me in some situations. Can someone please make the answers less similar?

Johnny

Kwiziq community member

24 July 2016

1 reply

ça y est vs. c'est fait

Would you please tell me the difference between "ça y est" and "c'est fait" and when to use which? Both appear to mean "It's done." Thanks.

Aurélie

Kwiziq language super star

25 July 2016

25/07/16

Bonjour Johnny ! Actually, French people would often say "Ça y est, c'est fait !" together like this! While "c'est fait" literally means "it's done" in a matter of fact way, "ça y est" is more of an expression of relief or satisfaction at the realisation or completion of an action. You will use "ça y est" when you finally got somewhere, or when someone finally manages to fix something.... The key word here is "finally". In a similar way to "Ça y est", you can also use the versatile "Voilà". I hope that's helpful! À bientôt !

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