oui
/wi/
The English phrase "yes" can be translated into French as oui.
The standard and most common way to say yes in French is oui. You can use it as a particle to indicate agreement or acceptance, or as a noun to refer to an answer that shows agreement. Oui, bien sûr means "yes, of course" and adds an element of politeness. To express enthusiastic agreement or to state that something is obvious, you can use Mais oui. Other ways to express agreement include Tout à fait, which means "absolutely" or "completely" and the formal word Assurément, which translates to "assuredly".
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
While oui is the standard way to say yes, si is used specifically to contradict a negative question or statement.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ouais is a common colloquial/informal version of oui, equivalent to the English "yeah".
How do you pronounce it?
/wi/
Did you know?
- The modern oui evolved from the Old French word oïl, which was originally a combination of a particle and the word for 'he'.
- In many parts of Southern France, you might hear people use òc instead of oui to mean 'yes', stemming from the Occitan language.
- While oui is the standard word for 'yes', French speakers often use a slight nod of the head accompanied by a short, sharp oui to indicate they are following a conversation without necessarily agreeing with the point.
Examples in context
- Oui ou non ?Yes or no?Tatoeba #569861 by sacredceltic, translation #562905 by kebukebu
- Il a dit oui.He said yes.Tatoeba #7528060 by Micsmithel, translation #2845863 by AlanF_US
- Eh bien oui !Well yes!Tatoeba #9025676 by Micsmithel, translation #8856267 by moxy
- 559 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Léa are deciding whether to go for a walk.
- HugoTu veux aller au parc ?Do you want to go to the park?
- LéaOui, avec plaisir.Yes, with pleasure.
- HugoOn y va maintenant ?Are we going now?
- LéaOui, c'est une bonne idée.Yes, it is a good idea.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries oui, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oui, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
