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I often listen to a phrase that has “tu” and “forme” in it which is used as an informal greeting in the sense of “What's up”. Can you remind it, please?
This question is linked but I do not find the exact phrase I am looking for here: How do you say “How are you”?
It is certainly:
T'es en forme? (Es-tu en forme?)
or
T'as la forme? (As-tu la forme?)
Both expressions are very common, and rather informal.
It means a bit more than "how are you?". The meaning is closer to "Do you feel energetic/motivated/excited?"
The most literal English translation is "Are you in a good shape?"
Comment vas-tu ?
La forme ?
Ca va ?
This was used constantly when I played football in the Dordogne.
Simply said like "en forme?"
Literal translation, "on form?"
Feeling well?
I wasn't aware it could be used in a different situation than during sport, evidently, it can.
En complément aux réponses déjà fournies, la traduction habituelle de what's up Cf. Reverso :
Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?
Dans lequel la notion de forme n'existe pas.
On entendra plus souvent :
Quoi d'neuf, doc' ?
Familier - C'est la première question que pose Bugs Bunny lorsqu'il apparaît à l'écran, en honorant du titre de Docteur tous ses interlocuteurs.
N.B. : En France on n'emploie Docteur que pour présenter ou parler à un médecin, les autres titres de docteur ne sont cités que sur les papiers officiels ou les cartes de visites, sur lesquels on précise la qualité : docteur en sciences, docteur ès lettres.
Qu'y a-t-il de nouveau, ? interrogation de curiosité
Qu'est-ce qu'il y a de nouveau ? plus soutenu, plus inquisitorial.
EDIT suite au commentaire, précision sur la traduction de what's up
As a complement
it seems that the expression "Ca va?" comes from an old expression, used by doctor's asking to their patient if they really success to defecate :
Ca va > verb "Aller" > means "Aller à la selle" > pooh
Source :http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salutation#Comment_allez-vous_.3F
With a single googling, it seems this explaination half time is an urban legend, half time a true story ... but there is not any proof ;)
This expression seems to take place in the XII century. But once again, I don't find any authoritarive source, just indirects mentions, like here : http://www.expressio.fr/expressions/en-bonne-et-due-forme.php (Be careful "En bonne et dûe forme" means your a regular regarding the Law / a rule )
