Bonjour ! Actually the right question is... What is the difference between "ceci" et "cela" CELA (something far from you) "ça" et "cela" are the same word. It means "that". - cela is the formal way, and it is better to use it when you write. - ça is the contraction of "ce" and "la" the "el" disappears and become "ca". But "ca" is pronounced "ka" when we want the sound "sa". So we add a "cedille" to the "c" to get the right sound and it becomes "ça". Use "ça" only when you speak french, not when you write (it's correct, but informal) - when "cela" is followed by a noun, it becomes "ce" - still "cela" or "ça" when it is the subject of the verb and can be translated by "that" or "it" in english - "that is" is translated by "cela est" written, and becomes "c'est" when spoken Examples: - I like that (written) -> j'aime cela - I like that (spoken) -> j'aime ça - I like that dog -> j'aime ce chien - It bothers me / that bothers me -> cela m'ennuie - that is right - That is right (written) -> cela est vrai -That is right (spoken) -> c'est vrai CECI (something close to you) "ceci" means "this" - "ceci" can also be shorten as "ça" when spoken - "ceci" becomes "ce" when followed by a noun - "ceci" stays "ceci" when followed by a verb - "that is" is translated by "ceci est" written, and becomes "c'est" when spoken - I like that (written) -> j'aime ceci - I like that (spoken) -> j'aime ça - I like that dog -> j'aime ce chien - It bothers me / that bothers me -> ceci m'ennuie - That is right (written) -> ceci est vrai -That is right (spoken) -> c'est vrai Wow... So many rules I only noticed it while I was writing the answer ^^ i hope I didn't forget anything... Bon courage :!