When we hear “se la vie,” or as it sounds in French “c’est la vie,” we recall a philosophy that helps us accept life as it is. Often in Ukrainian translation, it sounds like “such is life.” This expression is often used to convey a light acceptance of situations that are not always within our control.
Imagine that some unforeseen event has occurred, and you can’t do anything about it. This is where this French expression comes in handy. That is, “se la vie” is a kind of life wisdom that reminds us that we do not always control circumstances, but we can control our attitude towards them. So, when asked, “what does selavi mean,” the conversation is precisely about such a philosophy of life that helps to accept things that happen with understanding and ease.