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What are the different ways to say "NO" in French?

Salut à toutes et à tous !

In some situations, answering "non" can be considered rude. So you may use different answers like "non merci", "pas maintenant" or "pas vraiment".

Here are different ways to say "no" in French:

Everyday talk [ edit | edit source ]

Use those expression in everyday conversations:

Non merci [ edit | edit source ]

No, thanks

Pas du tout [ edit | edit source ]

Not at all

If you really don't want to do something, you can say “pas du tout”.

Est-ce que tu serais prêt à escalader cette montagne ? Pas du tout ! Would you be ready to climb that mountain? Not all all!

Pas encore [ edit | edit source ]

Not yet

If you have not done something yet, you can say “pas encore”.

Tu as lu le livre dont je t'ai parlé ? Pas encore. = Did you read the book I talked to you about? Not yet.

Pas maintenant [ edit | edit source ]

Not now

If you do not wish to do something now, but would be ready in a moment, you can say "Not now".

ça te dit d'aller au restaurant ? Pas maintenant. Do you feel like going to the restaurant? Not now.

Pas question ! [ edit | edit source ]

No way!

If someone ask you something so crazy you immediately know the answer is “no”. In this situation you can use "Pas question" (no way), "Hors de question" (out of the question), "absolument pas" (absolutely not).

Peux-tu t'excuser s'il te plait ? Pas question ! = Can you apologize please? No way!

Pas vraiment [ edit | edit source ]

Not really

If you are not ready or don't want to do something, you can say "Pas vraiment".

Salut Pierre ! tu es prêt pour l'examen ? Pas vraiment. Hi Antoine! Are you ready for the test? Not really.

Malheureusement pas [ edit | edit source ]

Unfortunately not

To formally decline a request while pretending you really wished you could help, you can say "malheureusement pas".

Peut on obtenir un remboursement du voyage ? Malheureusement pas. = Can I get a refund for this trip? Unfortunately not.

Forget it!

Pourrais-tu me prêter 1000 euros ? Oublie ! = Could you lend me 1,000 euros? Forget it!

Ce sera tout [ edit | edit source ]

That'll be all

When you buy something at the bakery, the waiter can ask you if you’d like something else. If you do not want something else, you can answer “Ce sera tout”.

Vous prendrez une boisson avec ça ? Non merci, ce sera tout = Will you take a drink with that? No thanks, that’ll be all.

Comme ci comme ça [ edit | edit source ]

So so

If you do not really want to do something, you can say "Comme ci comme ça"

ça te dit d'aller faire du sport pendant 2 heures ? Do you feel like doing sport for 2 hours?

Never!

If you want to say you’ll never do something, you can say “jamais”. T’as déjà été aux USA? = Non jamais.

Have you ever been to the US? = No never.

Non ! un point c'est tout ! [ edit | edit source ]

No ! and that's all !

If you want to emphasize your NO.

Alors là, non ! [ edit | edit source ]

Oh no!

If you want to emphasize your NO.

Alors là, non, ce n'est plus possible de supporter tout ce bruit ! (it is no longer possible to endure all this noise!)

Non mais alors ! [ edit | edit source ]

Oh no!

If you want to emphasize your NO.

Non mais alors, pour qui il se prend celui là ? (oh no! Who does he think he is?)

Et puis quoi, encore? [ edit | edit source ]

what next!, whatever next!

Expression expressing disapproval in the tone of exasperation.

Nenni is also common in Belgium (Liège). There's also "nenni, valet" , "nenni hein" and "que nenni!".

Ça va pas, non? [ edit | edit source ]

"Are you out of your mind?"

Polite ways [ edit | edit source ]

Refuser une semande (Reject a request) [ edit | edit source ]

I would love to help you but ...

Malheureusement, ça tombe mal... [ edit | edit source ]

Unfortunately, it's not a good time...

Je suis désolé(e) mais... [ edit | edit source ]

I'm sorry but ...

Refuser une offre, une proposition (Reject an offer, a proposal) [ edit | edit source ]

J'apprécie ta proposition mais... [ edit | edit source ]

I appreciate your proposal but ...

Ce serait bien mais... [ edit | edit source ]

It would be nice but ...

Je te remercie pour ton offre mais... [ edit | edit source ]

I thank you for your offer but ...

Refuser une invitation (Refuse an invitation) [ edit | edit source ]

ça semble super mais... [ edit | edit source ]

It looks great but ...

J'aurais aimé venir mais... [ edit | edit source ]

I would have liked to come but ...

Merci pour l'invitation mais... [ edit | edit source ]

Thank you for the invitation but ...





Slang talk [ edit | edit source ]

Use those expression only with friends. Caution: some of them are very rude.

Slang for "non", like "oui" and "ouais".

va chier [ edit | edit source ]

Fuck off (very rude)

"c'est mort" means something like "no fucking way", "not even a chance"



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What about you? How do you usually say "no" in French, please share your comments or edit this page!

https://www.reddit.com/r/French/comments/6msmqm/what_are_the_different_ways_to_say_no_in_french/

https://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/et_puis_quoi_encore

Polite ways to say "no"



