French word

cela

Pronunciation

IPA/səla/

Meaning

  • pronounthat

Example

Cela ne me regarde pas.

That doesn't concern me.

Illustration for cela (that)

More examples

Cela dit, je comprends ton point de vue.

That said, I understand your point of view.

Core concept

A neutral pointing word that gathers an earlier idea, sentence, or fact into one reference.

Common phrases

  • cela dit

    that said

  • à cause de cela

    because of that

  • grâce à cela

    thanks to that

Similar words

ça: Refers to a previously mentioned event or matter in informal conversation.
ce: Refers to a matter in expressions such as c'est, meaning it or that.
celui: Identifies a particular person or thing selected from several possibilities.

Definition in French

Renvoie à une idée, une phrase ou un fait précédemment exprimé.

Word origin

Cela developed in Old French from the demonstrative ce combined with là, forming a neuter demonstrative pronoun.

Usage tips

  • In ordinary spoken French, ça is much more common than cela, while cela remains common in writing and formal speech.

Opposites

Word lists with this word