The different ways to say « no » in French
Learning French for beginners includes « non », but there are several translations for « no » in French. In some situations, answering « non » can be considered as rude. Although French people are generally direct, they can be courteous too and using additional words or expressions in French will add nuances. If you wish to expand your linguistic skills in French, read this lesson to learn how to say « no » in French.
1 - The traditional « non »
-Est-ce que vous habitez à Londres ?
Non
- Do you live in London?
No
2 - « Oh non ! » the surprised and empathetic « no »
oh non a way to say no in French
« Oh no! » is an emphatic way to express a disappointment and show that you sincerely feel sorry for what happened.
-Il a été licencié ce matin
Oh non ! ce n’est pas possible
-He has been made redundant this morning
Oh no! how is that possible?
3 - « Malheureusement non » : « Unfortunately no »
« Malheureusement non » literally tranlated as « unfortunately no » is a polite way to decline requests while and say you feel sorry for not being able to answer positively.
-Est-ce que tu es libre pour venir dîner à la maison samedi ?
Malheureusement non, je suis déjà prise
-Are you free to come to dinner this Saturday?
Unfortunately no, I already have another engagement
4 - « Jamais de la vie ! » « Out of the question »
jamais de la vie : a way to say no in french
This emphatic expression expresses that it is out of the question to do something.
-Vous pensez un jour escalader le mont Everest ?
Non, jamais de la vie, je ne tenterai une chose pareille.
- Do you think that one day you will climb Mount Everest?
Not a chance/ not in a million years!
5 - The polite no : « Non merci »
"non merci" : another way to say "no" in French
If you are in a shop, the sales assistant might ask you if you need help. If you prefer looking by yourself without his/her assistance, you can reply with the following expression : « non merci je regarde »
-Bonjour madame, est-ce que je peux vous aider ?
Non merci je regarde
-Hello, can I help you ?
No thank you, I am just looking
6 - In a shop : « Non merci, c’est tout » « No thanks, that’s all »
When you buy something at the bakery, in a food shop or on the market, the sales assistant is likely to ask you if you would like something else. If you have finished your purchases, you can simply answer : « non merci, c’est tout »
-Et avec ça, vous désirez autre chose ?
Non merci, c’est tout
-And with this, would you like something else ?
No thank you, that’s all
7 - « Moi non plus » : « Me neither »
"Moi-non-plus" : another way to say "No" in French
The French expression « moi non plus »s expresses agreement with a negative statement. Note that « moi » can be replaced by a name, a noun, or another stressed pronoun
-Gaspard n’aime pas les haricots verts
John non plus
-Gaspard doesn’t like green beans
Neither does John
8 – « Non, jamais » : « No, never »
Ne …jamais = never
-Est-ce que vous avez visité le Japon ?
Non, je n’ai pas jamais visité ce pays
-Have you ever visited Japan ?
No, I have never visited this country
9 - Pas du tout - Not at all
« Non pas du tout » can be used in a response to a question when you wish to emphasis on the negation.
-Vous croyez qu’il dit la vérité ?
Non pas du tout
-Do you think he is telling the truth ?
No, not at all
10 – « Pas encore » - « Not yet »
"pas encore" : another way to say "no" in French
If you are supposed to do something, but have not done it yet or if someone asks you if you have ever done something, you can use the negation « pas encore ».
-Est-ce que tu as déjà réservé ton billet d’avion ?
Non pas encore, je le ferai ce week-end
-Have you already reserved your plane ticket ?
Not yet, I will do it this week-end
13 – « Mais non ! » The contracdictory no
This is a highly emphatic way of saying « no ». For example, if someone makes a statement that you consider to be absolutely untrue or if you try to reassure someone who self-criticizes, you can use « mais non ».
-Je suis stupide et je suis laid(e)
Mais non, ce n’est pas vrai
-I am stupid and ugly
No, it’s not true
14 - Quand je dis non c’est non –When I say no, it means no
You will use this emphatic sentence to clearly express and repeat that once you have expressed a statement, this is for good and you will not change your mind.
-Maman, s’il te plaît, je voudrais des bonbons
C’est la quatrième fois que tu me le demandes, non. Quand je dis non, c’est non !
-Mummy, I would like some sweets please
This is the fourth time that you ask me this. No. When I say no, it means no
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