How to Say “No” in French (+Audio)
Last updated: June 4, 2025
If you've studied any French at all, you probably know that the word for "no" is "non".
The thing is, there are many different ways to say no in French. (No wonder, in a country known for its high number of protests! 😅)
So, whether you're:
- Not sure how to refuse something in French
- Afraid of sounding rude or
- Afraid of sounding too formal
We've got you covered! Here is a compendium of the best ways to say no like a native:
Non: The most common French word for “no”
If you’re starting to learn French, one of the first and most essential words to master is non
(or, a bit more emphatically: noooon ) — it's the standard, catch-all word for “no.” This little word is incredibly powerful and widely used in nearly every context, from casual conversations with friends to serious political speeches.The French word non comes from the Latin non; it doubles as both "not" or "no."
How to pronounce non in French
Pronouncing non might seem easy at first, but there are two important details that trip English speakers up:
- English none is pronounced /nʌn/, but French non is / nɔ̃ /
(the little ~ stands for "nasalization") - Non ends with a nasal O sound, not an N: it's / nɔ̃ / , not /nɔn/
If you don't understand the international phonetic alphabet, this means:
- The vowel in English none and French non is not quite the same
- The French non doesn't end with a hard/noticeable N sound
Thankfully, the /ɔ/ sound also exists in English (it's the vowel in thought), so this vowel will be familiar to you. It just sounds a bit funny because it's nasalized (air comes not only out of your mouth but also out of your nose). It's a bit like saying “nohng”, but without pronouncing the final “g.” Try saying “non” through your nose a bit. The final nasal sound is really light and soft.
If you don't care too much about perfecting your pronunciation, this is enough to get on the right track. If you are interested in pronunciation, check out a much more detailed walk through below:
We actually have nasal vowels in English, too! You intuitively understand how to make nasal sounds, you're just not used to making them consciously because, in English, they only ever occur directly before an N or M sound. (In other words, you just hear a vowel plus an N or M sound). Unfortunately, in French, nasal vowels can appear in isolation—without being followed by an actual M or N sound.
You can learn to consciously make nasal sounds, too, but it'll take a bit of experimentation.
First compare these two words:
- Had
- Hand
Now, say these words yourself... but place your fingers lightly on the brim of your nose, and say these two words yourself:
- When you say had, there won't be any vibration. This isn't a nasal sound.
- When you say hand, you'll notice vibration! That's the nasal N.
Now, let's slow hand way down:
If you listen really carefully, you'll be able to pick out three sounds in the middle there. It's difficult, because they all blend into each other—but if you put your hand on your nose and say hand really slowly, you'll be able to make out:
- A normal A (no vibration on your nose):
- ... that turns into a nasalized A (your nose begins vibrating):
- ... that turns into an N (your tongue connects with the top-front of your mouth, and the sound changes quality):
- Altogether now:
Play around a little bit until you figure out what you need to do to pronounce a nasalized vowel. You'll know you've got it when you check these three boxes:
- A vowel sound
- Your tongue does not touch your teeth or the roof of your mouth
- There is vibration in your nose
And once you can do that, you've got the concept of nasalization down. Take a bit of time to experiment with other vowels, and then take a careful listen to non
again, and try to reproduce that /n/ + / ɔ̃ /.Anyway, what a detour!
↓↓ Back to the article ↓↓
- Non, merci.
No, thank you.
Like singing? This song by Camélia Jordana says it about a million times. Get practicing 💪
"Non" is used for almost everything
The word non is extremely flexible. You can use it:
- To deny something outright
- To reject a request or proposal
- To disagree with someone
- As a firm refusal or even a soft letdown
It works in both formal and informal situations, making it an indispensable part of the French learner’s toolkit.
- Non, ce n’est pas vrai.
No, that’s not true. - Non, je n’ai pas envie.
No, I don’t feel like it.
The grammar of French negation
French grammar gives you many ways to say “no” using sentence structure. The most basic pattern is ne... pas, in which "ne" is placed before the verb and "pas" is placed after it:
- Je ne sais pas.
I don’t know. - Il ne veut pas venir.
He doesn’t want to come.
More advanced negations work basically the same way—"ne" before the verb, and then some other negating word after the verb:
- ne… jamais (never)
Je ne mange jamais de viande.
I never eat meat. - ne… plus (no longer)
Elle ne travaille plus ici.
She no longer works here. - ne… rien (nothing)
Il ne dit rien.
He says nothing.
Remember: Before a vowel, “ne” becomes “n’” with an apostrophe.
- Je n'aime pas ça.
I don't like this. - Il n'a pas été à la fac.
He didn't go to university.
Understanding how negation works grammatically will allow you to build your own sentences that say “no” in more nuanced ways.
French phrases to say "non"
Sometimes, just saying "non" isn't enough. Thankfully, French offers a variety of synonyms and alternative phrases you can use to emphasize your refusal more clearly... or to state it more colorfully.
Expression | Meaning | Use Case Example | Sentence Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
Pas question | No way / Out of the question | Pas question que tu sortes ce soir. No way you're going out tonight. | |
Hors de question | Completely out of the question | Aller en boîte un lundi ? Hors de question ! Club on a Monday? Absolutely not! | |
Jamais | Never | Je ne ferai jamais ça. I would never do that. | |
Surtout pas | Especially not / Definitely not | Tu veux partager ton dessert ? Surtout pas ! You want to share your dessert? Definitely not! | |
En aucun cas | Under no circumstance | En aucun cas je ne signerai ce contrat. Under no circumstance will I sign this contract. | |
Absolument pas | Absolutely not | Tu as triché ? Absolument pas. Did you cheat? Absolutely not. |
Informal Ways of Saying No in French
French speakers have plenty of slang and informal ways to say “no,” especially among younger people or in casual settings. These phrases add color and attitude to everyday speech.
French | English | Example Sentence | Sentence Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
Nope | Just like in English | Nope, j’ai pas envie. Nope, I don’t feel like it. | |
T’as cru | You thought?! (sarcastic) | T’as cru que j’allais faire ça ? You thought I was going to do that? | |
Même pas en rêve | Not even in your dreams | Tu crois que je vais faire ça ? Même pas en rêve. You think I’d do that? Not even in dreams. | |
Tu rêves / T’as rêvé | You’re dreaming | Tu rêves si tu penses que je viens. You're dreaming if you think I'm coming. | |
C’est mort | It’s dead / No way | Me demander de l’aide ? C’est mort. Asking me for help? No way. | |
Laisse tomber | Forget it | On y va ? Laisse tomber, il pleut. Shall we go? Forget it, it’s raining. |
How to give a negative response politely in French
Let’s face it—even in France, being blunt isn't always the best approach. Saying “non” directly might feel too harsh, especially when talking to your boss, a client, or someone you respect.
Instead, native speakers often soften the blow with indirect or polite phrases. Just like in English!
- Je crains que ce ne soit pas possible.
I’m afraid that’s not possible. - Je préférerais ne pas.
I’d prefer not to. - Peut-être une autre fois ?
Maybe another time?
These phrases help you say “no” without sounding rude or dismissive.
Here's a table with ready-made expressions you can use to politely decline when someone asks you something you can't do:
French | English | Example Usage | Sentence Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
Ça va être compliqué | That’s going to be complicated | Pour cette date, ça va être compliqué. For that date, that’s going to be complicated. | |
Nous sommes désolés, mais… | We’re sorry, but… | Nous sommes désolés, mais ce produit est épuisé. We’re sorry, but that product is out of stock. | |
Ce n’est pas envisageable | It’s not an option | Ce changement n’est pas envisageable. That change is not an option. | |
Je ne pense pas que ce soit possible | I don’t think that’s possible | Je ne pense pas que ce soit possible aujourd’hui. I don’t think that’s possible today. | |
Malheureusement, je ne peux pas | Unfortunately, I can’t | Malheureusement, je ne peux pas venir. Unfortunately, I can’t come. |
How to learn which "no" phrase to use when
Let’s be real—memorizing vocabulary lists will only get you so far. To understand how French people really say “no” in different situations, you need to feel it. To do that, you need to encounter these phrases in bunch of different contexts..
That means interacting with French: watching TV shows, movies, and YouTube videos.
Migaku facilitates this process by making text interactive on websites and in places like YouTube/Netflix subtitles. For example, say you're watching a French video on YouTube, and you stumble into the phrase “même pas en rêve.”
Well, just tap on it!
Migaku will show you a dictionary definition of what it means—or, in messy dialogues like this, have AI give you an explanation of what the phrase means in this particular context.
If you decide that the word looks useful, you can tap on the orange button in the top-right corner of the dictionary to create a flashcard directly from your show. It looks like this:
There you go! We'll nudge you to review this phrase periodically, ensuring that you eventually remember it. (And it'll be easier to remember, because every time you hear it, you'll see your show and hear it pronounced by a voice you know.)
Say "Non" like Native French Speakers
Mastering how to say “no” in French isn’t just about one word—it’s about understanding when and how to use a variety of expressions, depending on the context, tone, and personality.
That process takes time.
So, remember:
If you consume media you enjoy in French, and you understand some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Bonne chance, et n’oubliez pas (Good luck, and don't forget):
- Savoir dire non, c’est aussi savoir se faire respecter !
(Knowing how to say no is also a way to impose respect!)