Idiom Translator

How do you say “Hit it off” in French?

The closest natural French equivalent is Bien s’entendre dès le début, which literally means “To understand each other well from the beginning”. English speakers use hit it off to mean to like someone and get along well from the first meeting. A natural choice that makes both the good connection and its quick start explicit. It is informal, neutral and common in everyday French.

Closest natural French

Bien s’entendre dès le début

/bjɛ̃ sɑ̃.tɑ̃dʁ dɛ lə de.by/

Literal meaning
“To understand each other well from the beginning”
Register
informal, neutral
How often it's used
common
Equivalence

Near-exact equivalent

95 out of 100

What a native French speaker would actually say

The English words do not name the feeling directly. French can simply say that two people got along from the beginning.

“Le courant passe” adds an image of an electrical connection. It feels more vivid, and works for both friendly and romantic chemistry.

How close is the meaning?

  • Meaning5 out of 5
  • Tone4 out of 5
  • Context5 out of 5
  • Literal similarity1 out of 5

These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.

What are other ways to say it in French?

  • Le courant passe

    Literally: “The current passes”

    A familiar image for a personal connection, including at a first meeting.

  • Accrocher tout de suite

    Literally: “To hook immediately”

    Casual wording for connecting with someone straight away.

Don't translate it literally

  • Le frapper

    This means hitting someone or something, not getting along.

Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in French, not as expressions.

In context

  • English

    My sister and my flatmate hit it off straight away.

    French

    Ma sœur et mon colocataire se sont bien entendus dès le début.

  • English

    We hit it off as soon as we met.

    French

    Le courant est passé dès notre première rencontre.

Related expressions

Last reviewed 2026-09-12