Ça = that/this/it (French Demonstrative Pronouns)

In French, you will encounter the demonstrative pronoun "ça" a lot. It is used to mean it, this or that.

Learn how to use the pronoun "ça" in French

Look at these sentences using ça:

Oh ! J'ai regardé ça aussi hier.Oh! I watched that too yesterday.

La grammaire française ? Je trouve ça trop difficile !French grammar? I find that too hard!

Ça me dérange quand on fume à côté de moi.It bothers me when people smoke next to me.

The pronoun ça is a contraction of cela, but it is used much more frequently, particularly in speech or informal writing.

Depending on the context, ça can mean it, this or that.

ATTENTION:
When referring to something in general, even if the thing is plural, ça is used and followed by the singular form:

Les lasagnes ? J'adore ça !Lasagna? I love it!

Les probabilités, ça m'énerve !Probabilities get on my nerves!

See also the more advanced "C'est" vs "Il/Elle est" to say it is/she is/he is in French

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Les probabilités, ça m'énerve !Probabilities get on my nerves!
La grammaire française ? Je trouve ça trop difficile !French grammar? I find that too hard!
Oh ! J'ai regardé ça aussi hier.Oh! I watched that too yesterday.
Les lasagnes ? J'adore ça !Lasagna? I love it!
Ça me dérange quand on fume à côté de moi.It bothers me when people smoke next to me.
Thinking...