de rien
/də ʁjɛ̃/
The English phrase 'de nada' can be expressed in French as de rien.
The phrase is used as a polite response to acknowledge someone's thanks.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, de rien translates to 'of nothing'.
How do you pronounce it?
/də ʁjɛ̃/
Did you know?
- In Quebec, you might hear bienvenue as a response to thanks. This is a direct influence from the English 'you're welcome' and is less common in France.
- While de rien is standard, the more formal je vous en prie literally means 'I pray you for it'. It is the preferred choice in professional settings or when speaking to strangers.
- Using de rien in a highly formal environment can sometimes be seen as too dismissive, as it literally tells the other person that the favor was 'nothing'.
Example conversation
Chloé helps Lucas carry a heavy box.
- ChloéTiens, voilà ton paquet.Here, here is your package.
- LucasMerci beaucoup pour ton aide, Chloé.Thank you very much for your help, Chloé.
- ChloéDe rien, Lucas, avec plaisir.You're welcome, Lucas, my pleasure.
- LucasC'est très gentil de ta part.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry de rien, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
