phrase

c'est la vie

say lah VEE

C'est la vie (phrase) means Said to accept a disappointment calmly, on the basis that setbacks are simply part of life. Example: “The flight was cancelled and we lost the deposit, but c'est la vie.”

phrase

informal Said to accept a disappointment calmly, on the basis that setbacks are simply part of life.

"The flight was cancelled and we lost the deposit, but c'est la vie."

"He shrugged and said c'est la vie when the promotion went to someone else."

How to Use C'est la vie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA way of saying that's life when something goes wrong.

When to use it

Conversational and mildly world-weary; usually placed at the end of a sentence or used on its own as a resigned reply.

Memory tip

Keep the apostrophe in c'est; writing cest la vie is a spelling mistake.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

c'est la guerre que sera sera → je ne sais quoi

Common pairings

but c'est la vie well, c'est la vie shrug and say c'est la vie

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The flight was cancelled and we lost the deposit, but _____.

Etymology

A French phrase meaning literally that is the life, used in English in its original form.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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that's life such is life that's how it goes oh well

Related Words

ag welp it is what it is what the heck

Rhymes for c'est la vie

pie die lie tie sie vie hie i.e. brie movie eerie moxie

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does c'est la vie mean literally?

Literally it means that is the life in French. In practice it functions like the English that's life, used to shrug off a misfortune you cannot change.

What is the difference between c'est la vie and que sera sera?

C'est la vie accepts something that has already gone wrong. Que sera sera, which is Spanish-flavoured rather than French, looks forward and means whatever will be, will be.

Is it rude to say c'est la vie to someone who is upset?

It can be. Because the phrase dismisses the problem as unavoidable, saying it about another person's misfortune may sound uncaring. It is safest used about your own bad luck.

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ag welp it is what it is what the heck