Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| n’importe quoi | ||
| rien | /ʁjɛ̃/ | with negation |
French uses different words for "anything" depending on the context. n’importe quoi is used when you mean any random thing of any kind or to mean "whatever". It can also be used as a colloquial exclamation to mean "That's nonsense!" or "Whatever!" when someone says something ridiculous. rien is used to mean "anything" within a negative context.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase n’importe quoi literally translates to "no matter what".
Which one should you use?
Use rien for "anything" in negative sentences. In contrast, use n’importe quoi when you mean "anything" in the sense of "any random thing".
How does it change in a sentence?
When used with the negation ne, rien functions as "anything" in English negative sentences, such as Je ne sais rien for "I don't know anything".
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use n'importe quoi to mean "anything" in negative contexts where rien is required.
Did you know?
- The word rien actually comes from the Latin word rem, which means 'a thing'. It is a linguistic evolution that turned a word for 'a thing' into a word for 'nothing'.
- When a French speaker says C’est n’importe quoi! with a sigh or a roll of the eyes, they are not talking about 'anything' but are calling a situation a complete disaster or total chaos.
- The word quoi in n’importe quoi is an indeclinable pronoun, meaning it never changes its form regardless of the gender or number of the things it refers to.
Examples in context
- Il n'a rien vu.He didn't see anything.This sentence is useful for seeing how rien is used in a negative sentence regarding sight.Tatoeba #1445253 by sacredceltic, translation #1444003 by CK
- Ne dites rien !Don't say anything.This sentence is useful for seeing how rien is used in a negative command.Tatoeba #1846241 by sacredceltic, translation #1844227 by CK
- Je ne dis rien.I'm not saying anything.This sentence is useful for seeing how rien is used in a negative statement regarding speaking.Tatoeba #2031148 by sacredceltic, translation #2361892 by CK
- 1544 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anything” translations and entries rien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quoi, rien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
