❌ How to Say No in French – And Sound Natural Doing It
If there’s one word you’ll hear (and use) a lot when learning French, it’s “no.” So, how to say no in French?
Fortunately, it’s easy:
Short, simple, and super common. But just like in English, there are many ways to say no depending on the tone, the context, or how strong (or soft!) you want your refusal to sound.
Let’s dive in!
🟡 Start Simple: Non
If you’re a beginner, start with non. You’ll use it all the time to answer yes-no questions.
Examples:
— Est-ce que vous êtes américaine ?
— Non, je suis canadienne.
(Are you American? — No, I’m Canadian.)
— Il y a une boulangerie dans la rue Sainte-Anne ?
— Non.
(Is there a bakery on Sainte-Anne Street? — No.)
It’s formal enough for any situation, and everyone uses it.
🟣 The Casual Alternative: Nan
You’ll often hear people say “nan” instead of non.
It’s the casual, informal version—kind of like saying “nope” in English.
— Tu as vu le dernier film avec Omar Sy ?
— Nan. C’était comment ?
(Did you see the latest movie with Omar Sy? — Nope. How was it?)
It’s not rude, just informal. Friends, family, coworkers, and even kids say it all the time. If you want to sound relaxed and natural, feel free to use it too.
To keep your conversations polite, balance out saying no by learning how to say please in French as well.
🌿 Polite No: Non, merci.
When someone offers you something—food, help, or advice—you can soften your “no” by adding a polite merci.
— Tu veux plus de quiche ?
— Non, merci. Je n’ai plus faim.
— Je peux vous aider ?
— Non, merci. Je regarde.
It’s kind, simple, and culturally expected in shops and cafés.
🔴 Stronger Ways to Say No
Sometimes “non” isn’t quite enough. Here are some expressions that add flavor, strength, or nuance to your no.
❌ Non, pas du tout – Not at all
— Tu connais Bruxelles ?
— Non, pas du tout.
❌ Pas question ! – No way!
— Donne-moi 10 euros.
— Pas question !
😅 Tu plaisantes ! – You must be joking!
— Prête-moi ton sac Louis Vuitton !
— Tu plaisantes !
🔁 Au contraire – On the contrary
— Ça te dérange ?
— Non, au contraire. (No, quite the opposite.)
👤 Personal Reactions: “Me neither” / “Not me”
French has some handy phrases when reacting to someone else’s likes, dislikes, or opinions:
- Moi non – Not me
— Il adore la cuisine épicée. Et toi ?
— Moi, non.
- Moi non plus – Me neither
— Je n’aime pas la coriandre.
— Moi non plus.
🟠 Softer or More Precise Refusals
Sometimes “no” isn’t so black and white. Here are a few ways to be more specific or nuanced:
- Pas tout à fait – Not quite
— On est arrivés ?
— Pas tout à fait.
- Pas vraiment – Not really
— Tu habites près de la plage ?
— Pas vraiment.
- Pas encore – Not yet
— Tu as ton permis ?
— Pas encore.
- Pas maintenant – Not now
— Tu peux m’aider ?
— Pas maintenant.
- Plus maintenant – Not anymore
— Elle travaille toujours là-bas ?
— Plus maintenant.
⚫ Never Ever: Jamais
— Tu veux sauter en parachute ?
— Jamais ! (Never!)
— Tu es déjà allé en Norvège ?
— Non, jamais. (No, never.)
⚠️ Not Possible: Pas possible / Impossible
— Tu viens à la réunion ?
— Pas possible. J’ai un rendez-vous.
🗯️ Emphatic “No”s
Sometimes, French speakers add flair to their refusal:
- Mais non ! – Of course not!
- Bien sûr que non ! – Definitely not!
- Ha, mais non ! – Oh, absolutely not!
- Je crois que non. – I don’t think so.
Each of these adds personality or emotion to your response.
For more ways to translate “No”, have a look here.
As for advanced learners, here you’ll find quotes as well as various ways and explanations on how to use the French “Non”.
🙅♀️ Body Language Tip
Just like in English, shaking your head from side to side means no.
French speakers often pair it with a firm “non” or a raised eyebrow for emphasis. In informal situations, a simple pfff and shrug might also do the job!
Final Tip
French has plenty of ways to say no, from the super simple to the extra expressive. Start with non and non, merci, and slowly add others as you feel more confident.You’ll soon find that saying no in French can be just as fun as saying yes!
After mastering how to say no, you can also learn the stronger expression shut up in French for when you really need it.