c'est la vie
that's life / it is what it is
Beginner Phrase
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Pronunciation
/sɛ la vi/
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Cultural Note
The most internationally famous French phrase, and ironically, actual French people use it way less than foreigners think. It's the Gallic shrug in verbal form — a philosophical acceptance that some things are beyond your control. In France, it's considered a bit of a cliché, like saying 'carpe diem' unironically. But abroad, it's the phrase people drop to sound worldly and sophisticated at dinner parties. If a French person actually says this to you, they've genuinely given up.
📝 Example Sentences
J'ai raté mon train. Bon, c'est la vie.
I missed my train. Oh well, that's life.
On n'a pas gagné, mais c'est la vie, on réessayera.
We didn't win, but that's life, we'll try again.