comme ça

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔm sa/

• Audio:

  (file)

Etymology 1

Adverb

comme ça

1. just like that (suddenly and unexpectedly)

   Synonym: d’un coup

   Il jouait dans le jardin et soudain, comme ça, il est tombé. ― He was playing in the garden and suddenly, just like that, he fell over.

2. like that (without preparation, without checking)

   Near-synonyms: à froid, de tête, de mémoire

   Là comme ça, ça ne me dit rien. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   Là comme ça, je ne saurais pas te dire. ― I don't know off the top of my head.

3. that way, as a result

   Synonyms: de cette façon, ainsi

Related terms

• comme ci comme ça

Etymology 2

Ellipsis of gros comme ça (“big like that”) or grand comme ça.

Adjective

comme ça (invariable)

1. (slang) large, big

Usage notes

• Often said with a gesture indicating the size of what is spoken about.