What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of pas (not/no), de (of) and souci (worry/concern).
Which one should you use?
While pas de souci is the standard form, you may also encounter the plural form pas de soucis in informal speech and writing.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
pas de souci is a colloquial expression. You should avoid using it in highly formal settings or professional writing. For a formal way to say "do not worry," use Ne vous inquiétez pas. If you are responding to a "thank you" in a formal or polite context, use Je vous en prie instead of pas de souci. For an informal way to say "no problem," you can use Pas de problème, or you can use the informal expression Aucun souci.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, it is common to use the phrase Pas de panique to mean "no worries" or "don't panic".
How does it change in a sentence?
Although the singular pas de souci is the standard form, the plural version pas de soucis is very common in informal speech and writing.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /pa d(ə) su.si/.
Did you know?
- In some regions, using pas de souci as a response to 'thank you' is seen as too casual or even slightly rude, as it implies the favor was so small it wasn't worth worrying about.
- Before pas became the standard negative word, French speakers used other nouns like goutte for 'a drop' and mie for 'a crumb' to emphasize a negative statement.
Examples in context
- Vous n'aviez pas de souci.You had no worries.This sentence shows the use of pas de souci in the past tense.Tatoeba #4205899 by Amastan, translation #12109634 by Bear
- Pas de soucis ! C'est bon comme ça !No worries! This is good enough!This sentence demonstrates an informal use of the plural pas de soucis.Tatoeba #1826742 by sacredceltic, translation #1826740 by donkirkby
- Bien préparé veut dire pas de soucis.Well prepared means no worries.This sentence shows how pas de souci can be used to relate preparation to the absence of worries.Tatoeba #538359 by sacredceltic, translation #537823 by blay_paul
- Pas de souci, je suis là pour t'aiderNo worries, I am here to help you
- Ne vous inquiétez pas, nous ferons tout notre possible pour régler cela rapidementNo worries, we will do our best to resolve this quickly
- Pas de problème, prends les clésNo worries, take the keys
- Aucun souci, on peut toujours s'organiser autrementNo worries, we can always make other arrangements
- Pas de panique, tu es bien préparé(e)No worries, you are well prepared
- Aucun problème, je vais m'en occuperNo worries, I will take care of it
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan apologizes to Léa for being a few minutes late.
- LéaTu es en retard !You are late!
- NathanDésolé, j'ai raté le bus.Sorry, I missed the bus.
- LéaPas de souci, je viens d'arriver.No worries, I just arrived.
- NathanMerci de ta patience.Thank you for your patience.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pas de souci, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, pas, souci, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
