pas question
/pa kɛs.tjɔ̃/
The English phrase "no way, jose!" can be translated into French as pas question.
Pas question is an informal expression used to emphatically refuse a request or to state that something is completely out of the question. It is used to deny that something will happen with strong emphasis.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, pas question translates to "no question".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Pas question is an informal way to express a strong refusal, matching the tone of the English "no way, jose!"
How do you pronounce it?
/pa kɛs.tjɔ̃/
Did you know?
- Historically, French speakers used other nouns like goutte ('a drop') or mie ('a crumb') in the same way pas is used today to emphasize a negative.
- In very informal spoken French, the pas in pas question is often the only negative word kept, as the formal ne is almost always dropped in conversation.
- In English, 'no way' can mean 'it is impossible', but in French, pas question specifically implies that the idea itself is not even worth discussing.
Examples in context
- Pas question de prêter ma voiture.No way am I lending my car.
- Tu veux que je range ta chambre ? Pas question !You want me to clean your room? No way!
- Il veut partir maintenant ? Pas question.He wants to leave now? No way.
Example conversation
Hugo asks Léa to let him borrow her favorite book.
- HugoLéa, je peux t'emprunter ton livre ?Léa, can I borrow your book?
- LéaPas question, Hugo ! Tu le perdrais.No way, Hugo! You would lose it.
- HugoJe te promets d'en prendre soin.I promise to take care of it.
- LéaDésolée, mais c'est non.Sorry, but it's a no.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pas question, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pas, question, CC BY-SA 4.0.
