Language/French/Vocabulary/Say-No

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

Instead of saying simply "No", it will sound more natural to be able to say “not now”, “so so” or “not really”.

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

Non merci

No, thanks

In some situations, answering “non” can come across as rude though. so you may want to say “non merci” instead.

Oublie !

forget it!

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

Ce sera tout

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.

Pas du tout

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

Not yet

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

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

Comme ci comme ça

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?

Pas maintenant

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 vraiment

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

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.

Pas question !

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!

Jamais !

never!

Non ! un point c'est tout !

No ! and that's all !

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.

Alors là, non !

oh 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 !

oh no!

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

ça par exemple !, tout de même !

honestly!

• ça par exemple ! tout de même, il n'a pas osé ? (Honestly, he did not dare!)

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