Saying No in French (original) (raw)

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Choose how you say no in French with care because the differences between expressions are nuanced. Here's how to say the equivalents of "no," "not a chance," "I don't think so," "down with," and more.

The Many Faces of Non in French

non > no
This is the basic, standard French word for "no."

Non, je n'aime pas skier. > No, I don't like to ski.

ah non / oh non > oh no
Ah non and oh non express disappointment, as in "oh no!" or "darn it!"

Ah non! Ça ne marche pas! > Oh no! It doesn't work!

non à… > no to...
Non à is followed by a noun to mean "(say) no to" or "down with," especially in protests and demonstrations:

Non au CPE! > No to the First Job Contract!

Other Synonyms for Non

Expressions With Non