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
- absolument pas > absolutely not
- au contraire > on the contrary
- aucun (problème, argent, etc.) > no (problem, money, etc)
- bien sûr que non > of course not
- certainement pas > certainly not
- des clous! (familiar) > no way!
- du tout > not at all
Expressions With Non
- je crois que non > I don't think so
- je ne dis pas non > I wouldn't say no
- mais non > of course not
- moi non > not me, I don't
- n'est-ce pas? > no? right? isn't it?
- niet! (familiar) > no way!
- non merci - no thank you
- non et non! > absolutely not!
- non plus > not (that) either
- non que + subjunctive > not that …
- ... ou non? > … (are/will/do you + verb) or not?
- pas de (problème, temps, pain, etc) > no (problem, time, bread, etc.)
- pas du tout > not at all
- pas question! (familiar) > no way! not a chance!
- pas tout à fait > not exactly, not quite
- que non! > absolutely not!