Wondering how to say “you’re welcome” in French?
As an expat living in France, who is also fluent in French, I know how important it is to speak the local language when you’re abroad. And expressions like “you’re welcome” are invaluable.
That’s why today I’m going to share with you all the ways to say “you’re welcome” in French so that you can sound like a local. Whether you’re planning a trip to France, or you want to move here, I’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide.
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Overview: How to Say You’re Welcome in French
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of this guide.
Here are the most common ways to say you’re welcome in French:
- De rien – It’s nothing (most common)
- Je vous en prie – You’re welcome (formal)
- Je t’en prie – You’re welcome (informal)
23 Useful Ways to Say You’re Welcome in French
Knowing how to respond to “merci” or “thanks” in French is an important part of the language. Fortunately, there are tons of ways to say “you’re welcome” in French.
Below I’ll cover 23 different phrases that you’ll be able to use in both formal and informal settings.
So, let’s get started.
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1. Je vous en prie
Pronunciation: juh vooz euh(n) pre
“Je vous en prie” is one of the most common and versatile ways to say “you’re welcome” in French. It’s used only in formal situations. There are several different translations, but the direct English version is “I beg you.”
When you use it as a response to “merci,” it implies that it was no trouble at all for you to help.
Useful Tip: The work culture in France emphasizes the use of French. So, a phrase like this will come in handy if you plan on working in France.
2. Je t’en prie
Pronunciation: juh tuh(n) pre
“Je t’en prie” is the informal version of “je vous en prie.” It has the same meaning except it’s used with friends, family, or people you know. You wouldn’t use this phrase in a business meeting, for example.
3. Merci à vous
Pronunciation: mair-see ah voo
“Merci à vous” is another formal way to say “you are welcome” in French. While it translates to “thanks to you,” the context here is different. It’s used when someone thanks you, but you feel it should be you who is thanking the other person.
4. Merci à toi
Pronunciation: mair-see ah twa
“Merci à toi” is the informal version of “merci à vous.” And it implies that the person who said thank you should be thanked instead. This phrase is used with friends, family, or people you know. It’s not appropriate to use in formal settings.
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5. Il n’y a pas de problème
Pronunciation: ihl ny-ah pah duh prah-blehm
“Il n’y a pas de problème” is one of the most common ways to say “you’re welcome” in French. It means “there’s no problem” or “it’s no problem,” but it implies that you don’t mind helping at all.
It’s a phrase that can be used in both formal and informal settings, making it very useful.
6. Pas de problème
Pronunciation: pah duh prah-blehm
“Pas de problème” is the shortened version of “il n’y a pas de problème,” making it less formal. It translates to “no problem,” and is often used among peers.
I use this phrase the most for informal settings. It’s easy to pronounce and remember!
7. Il n’y a pas de quoi
Pronunciation: ihl ny-ah pah duh kwah
The phrase “il n’y a pas de quoi” is like “il n’y a pas de problème,” but is far less formal. It means “don’t mention it” or “no problem.”
It’s often used with friends and family. But you can also use it with work colleagues that you know well.
Useful Tip: The direct translation is “there is of no what,” which doesn’t make any sense. So, you might have to memorize the indirect meaning to get the hang of this phrase.
8. Pas de quoi
Pronunciation: pah duh kwah
“Pas de quoi” is an informal way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It’s the shortened version of “il n’y a pas de quoi,” so you wouldn’t use this at the office, for example.
I, personally, only use this phrase with my friends and family.
9. Pas de souci
Pronunciation: pah duh sue-ci
“Pas de souci” is another informal way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “no worries.” It’s typically used among friends and family, as it has a more casual tone.
If you want to impress your French friends, this phrase will do just that. In fact, it’s worth traveling to France to give it a try!
10. Ce n’est rien du tout
Pronunciation: ceh nay ree-ehn due too
“Ce n’est rien du tout” is a phrase used to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it’s nothing at all,” and implies that the person who said thank you shouldn’t feel obliged to do so.
This phrase is typically for informal settings but can be used with people you know at the office. You wouldn’t use this phrase with your boss, however.
11. Ce n’est rien
Pronunciation: ceh nay ree-ehn
The phrase “ce n’est rien” is a useful way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it’s nothing,” and has a casual tone to it. So, you should only use this expression with friends or family.
When talking with someone you don’t know well, use one of the more formal responses instead.
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12. Ça ne fait rien
Pronunciation: sah neh fay ree-ehn
The phrase “ça ne fait rien” is another way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it doesn’t make anything,” which may seem strange, but it’s actually a polite response. It implies that the person who thanked you didn’t need to and what they asked for was no big deal.
Useful Tip: You would use this phrase in the same context as “ce n’est rien.”
13. Mais de rien, madame/monsieur
Pronunciation: may duh ree-ehn, ma-dam/meuh-sieur
“Mais de rien, madame/monsieur” is an elegant way to say “you are welcome” in French. And the addition of the terms ‘madame’ and ‘monsieur’ adds an extra layer of politeness. It translates to “it’s nothing” and is typically used when someone thanks you for something small.
This phrase has a formal tone, so it should be reserved for people you don’t know or situations where you need to be polite.
As an example, if you help an elderly person with a bag of groceries, they might say “merci beaucoup.” In response, you would say “mais de rien, madame/monsieur.”
14. De rien
Pronunciation: duh ree-ehn
The phrase “de rien” is a simple yet effective way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it’s nothing,” and it’s often used in informal conversations.
Useful Tip: “De rien” is considered impolite by some, so make sure to only use it with people you know.
15. Ne vous en faites pas
Pronunciation: neh vooz euh(n) fet pah
The phrase “ne vous en faites pas” is a great way to say “you are welcome” in French. It translates to “don’t worry about it,” which implies that there was no need for thanks in the first place.
This expression has a polite yet informal tone, so it’s perfect for the office.
Useful Tip: When you see the word vous in an expression that means it’s used in a formal setting.
16. Ça me fait plaisir
Pronunciation: sah meh fay pleh-seer
The phrase “ça me fait plaisir” is a great way to express gratitude and appreciation in French. It translates to “it makes me happy,” which implies that you were glad to help the person who thanked you. This expression has a polite yet friendly tone, so it’s perfect for both formal and informal settings.
17. C’est moi qui vous remercie
Pronunciation: say mwah key voo ruh-mair-see
The phrase “c’est moi qui vous remercie” is a polite way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It means “it’s me who thanks you,” which implies that you should be the one saying, “thank you.”
This expression has a humble tone and shows that you are very sincere.
18. C’est moi qui vous remercie de nous avoir accordé du temps
Pronunciation: say mwah key voo ruh-mair-see duh newz av-wah ah-cor-day due tahn
The phrase “c’est moi qui vous remercie de nous avoir accordé du temps” is a very polite way to say “you are welcome” in French. It means “it’s me who should be thanking you for giving us your time,” and shows the utmost respect. Given the formal tone, you would only be using this phrase in such conversations.
19. C’est moi
Pronunciation: say mwah
The phrase “c’est moi” is an informal way to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it’s me,” and implies that you should be the one saying thank you. This expression has a familiar tone, so it’s perfect for casual conversations with friends or family.
Useful Tip: If you’re thinking about living abroad in France, make sure to keep this phrase handy. It’s very common.
20. Avec plaisir
Pronunciation: ah-vec pleh-seer
“Avec plaisir” is a formal way to say “yes” in French. But, in southern France, it also means “you’re welcome.” It’s a polite way to express that you were glad to help the person who thanked you.
Useful Tip: While I have heard this expression in Paris, it’s more common in cities like Toulouse or Marseille. And if you decide to live in Lyon, you would almost never hear it.
21. Bienvenue
Pronunciation: bee-ahng-veh-noo
“Bienvenue” is not a common way to say “you’re welcome” in France. While it does translate to “welcome,” it only means “you’re welcome” in Quebecois (i.e., French Canadian).
If you use this expression in France to say, “you’re welcome,” it will be very awkward.
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22. S’il vous plaît
Pronunciation: sihl voo play
“S’il vous plaît” is typically used as a formal way to say “please,” but, in Belgium, it can also be used to say, “you’re welcome.”
Like the previous example, if you used it to say “you are welcome” in France, it would sound strange.
23. À votre service
Pronunciation: ah vo-truh sehr-vees
“À votre service” means “at your service.” It’s used as a formal way to say “you are welcome” in the French part of Switzerland.
This is an extremely polite expression and is never used with friends or family.
FAQs About How to Respond to Thank You in French
How do you respond to merci?
When someone says “merci” (thank you) in French, you can respond by saying “je vous en prie.” If you are talking to a friend, you can say “je t’en prie” or “de rien.”
How do you say you’re welcome in French slang?
In French slang, you can use the phrase “c’est rien,” “pas de quoi,” or “pas de souci” to say “you’re welcome.”
What is the difference between de rien and bienvenue?
The difference between “de rien” and “bienvenue” is that “de rien” is a response to “thank you” and means “it was nothing.” “Bienvenu” is an expression of welcome and is only used as “you’re welcome” in Quebecois.
What is the difference between de rien and je t en prie?
The phrase “de rien” is a casual expression used to say “you’re welcome” in French. It translates to “it’s nothing.” Meanwhile, the phrase “je t’en prie” is a polite informal way of saying “you’re welcome” to someone’s gratitude.
What is Je vous en prie?
“Je vous en prie” is a French expression that is used to say, “you’re welcome.”
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Conclusion: How to Say You Are Welcome in French
Saying “you’re welcome” in French is a great way to show respect and appreciation. There are many ways to express this sentiment, ranging from the informal “c’est moi” to the formal “je vous en prie.” Depending on the situation, either phrase will work. But I recommend that you start with the more formal phrases and progress to the informal options. Like this, you’ll make being polite a habit, which is always appreciated in France. So, now, all that’s left to do is start practicing!
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