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
Examples and resources
Q&A
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
25/09/17
Ça y était (t at the end, not s)
Ça y a été
Ça y sera
etc.
Paul
Kwiziq community member
25/09/17
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
29/09/17
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
29/09/17
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
29/09/17
- 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
29/09/17
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
24/08/17
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
29/08/17
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
25/07/16
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!