nan
/nɑ̃/
The English phrase "nope" is translated into French as nan in its informal particle form.
nan is an informal way to say "no". It can function as a particle to express negation or as a noun. When you want to express a strong or resolute refusal informally, you might use the phrase Même pas en rêve (not even in a dream) or use Pas question to say that something is "out of the question".
Meaning: informal "no" (particle)
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nan is categorized as informal. In more formal situations where you need to politely refuse a request, you should use Je regrette (I'm sorry or I regret). If you need to express a negative response formally by saying "I'm afraid it's not possible", use Je crains que ce ne soit pas possible.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/nɑ̃/
Did you know?
- In many French regions, a single, short 'pff' sound accompanied by a puff of air from the lips can serve as a non-verbal equivalent to a dismissive 'nope'.
- When using nan to agree with a negative, such as saying 'no' to the question 'You're not going?', it functions as a linguistic mirror that can confuse English speakers who expect 'yes' to mean affirmation.
- When writing text messages in French, many people use the abbreviation nn to represent the sound of nan or non, making it even shorter than the spoken informal version.
Examples in context
- Nan.Nope.This example shows the use of nan as a standalone response.Tatoeba #8873618 by lbdx, translation #879078 by sacredceltic
- Pas question, je ne prête jamais ma voiture.Out of the question, I never lend my car.
- Même pas en rêve, je n'ai pas les moyens.Not even in a dream, I can't afford it.
- Nan, pas encore.Nope, not yet.
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are discussing whether to order pizza.
- NathanOn commande une pizza, Chloé ?Shall we order a pizza, Chloé?
- ChloéNan, je n'ai plus faim.Nope, I'm not hungry anymore.
- NathanTu es sûre ?Are you sure?
- ChloéOui, vraiment.Yes, really.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nope” translations and entries nan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
