French Expression · Native
C'est la vie
That's life / Such is life
Pronunciation: SEH la VEE
Meaning
An expression used to acknowledge and accept an unpleasant or unavoidable situation.
Example
J'ai raté mon bus, mais bon, c'est la vie !
I missed my bus, but oh well, that's life!
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice C'est la vie out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a native-level French expression.