How to Say Yes and No in French: 14 Essential Responses

The Short Answer

The most common way to say yes in French is Oui (WEE), and the most common way to say no is Non (NOHN). But French has something English does not: a dedicated word, Si (SEE), used specifically to say "yes" when contradicting a negative question or statement. Mastering all three (Oui, Non, and Si) is essential for natural-sounding French.

French is spoken by approximately 321 million people across 29 countries, according to the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Across every one of those countries, Oui and Non form the backbone of daily communication. Yet native speakers rarely use bare Oui or Non alone. They modify, soften, intensify, and regionalize these words in ways that carry significant social meaning.

"The French language is not content with a simple binary of yes and no. Through Si, it acknowledges that disagreement with a negative proposition is fundamentally different from simple agreement."

(Grevisse & Goosse, Le Bon Usage, 16th edition)

This guide covers 14 essential ways to say yes and no in French, organized by affirmative expressions, negative expressions, and the unique Si. Each entry includes pronunciation, formality level, example sentences, and cultural context so you can respond like a native speaker.

Quick Reference: French Yes and No at a Glance

Ways to Say Yes in French

These are the affirmative expressions French speakers use daily, ranging from the universal Oui to emphatic phrases like Tout à fait. According to the Académie française, Oui has been the standard affirmative particle since Old French, evolving from the phrase o il ("he [does] that").

Oui

Oui is the first French word most learners master, and for good reason. It is universally understood across all 29 French-speaking countries and appropriate in every register, from a presidential address to a text message between friends.

The pronunciation is a single clean syllable: WEE. A common mistake among English speakers is adding a "w" sound at the start or stretching it into two syllables. Keep it crisp and short.

Ouais

Ouais is to Oui what "yeah" is to "yes" in English. You will hear it constantly in casual French conversation, in films, and on social media. It is the default affirmative among friends and peers.

In Québécois French, Ouais sometimes shifts toward Ouain (WAH̃), with a nasal quality that is distinctly Québécois. Both forms are casual and carry the same meaning.

Bien sûr

Bien sûr is one of the most versatile affirmative expressions in French. It works across nearly all registers and adds warmth and certainty to your response. Unlike Oui, which is neutral, Bien sûr implies that the answer was never in doubt.

You can intensify it further with Bien sûr que oui (of course yes) or negate it with Bien sûr que non (of course not). Both are common and natural.

D'accord

D'accord does not simply mean "yes." It means "agreed" or "OK." Use it when accepting a proposal, confirming a plan, or acknowledging an instruction. It is the French equivalent of responding with "sounds good" or "all right."

In text messages and informal writing, French speakers frequently shorten it to d'acc or even just ok. The full form D'accord remains appropriate in all registers.

Évidemment

Évidemment carries a tone of certainty: "the answer is obvious." When delivered warmly, it reassures the listener. When delivered flatly, it can border on condescension. French communication relies heavily on intonation, and Évidemment is a prime example.

Absolument

Absolument belongs to the more formal end of the affirmative spectrum. You will hear it in business meetings, interviews, and intellectual conversations. It conveys complete, unqualified agreement.

Tout à fait

Tout à fait is the kind of affirmative that makes your French sound immediately more sophisticated. It translates roughly to "quite so" or "entirely" and is a staple of polished, formal French. Politicians, academics, and journalists use it constantly.

For learners aiming to sound natural in professional French contexts, Tout à fait is an excellent addition to your vocabulary. It signals not just agreement but careful, considered agreement.

The Unique French "Si"

This is the expression that has no direct English equivalent, and it trips up learners more than almost any other aspect of French. Understanding Si is a genuine milestone in French fluency.

Si

In English, "yes" handles every affirmative situation. In French, Oui and Si divide that territory. The rule is straightforward: use Oui for affirmative questions and Si for negative ones.

Here is the pattern in action:

If someone frames their question negatively (Tu ne viens pas ?, Il n'a pas appelé ?) and the real answer is "actually, yes," you need Si. Responding with Oui to a negative question sounds grammatically awkward to French ears and can create confusion about what you actually mean.

Si can also be intensified: Mais si ! (But yes!), Si, si, si ! (Yes, yes, yes!, emphatic contradiction), or Que si ! (I'm telling you, yes!). These stronger forms are useful when someone does not believe your contradiction.

Ways to Say No in French

French offers a range of negative expressions, from the neutral Non to the emphatic Pas question. Knowing which to use helps you handle everything from polite refusals to firm rejections.

Non

Like Oui, Non is universal and appropriate in every register. The nasal vowel is key to pronunciation: say "NOHN" with the air passing through your nose, not "NON" as in English. The final "n" is barely articulated.

In practice, French speakers rarely use a bare Non. They soften it: Non, merci (no, thank you), Non, désolé (no, sorry), Non, pas aujourd'hui (no, not today). A blunt Non without any softener can come across as curt.

Pas du tout

Pas du tout serves double duty. As a response to a yes/no question, it means "absolutely not." As a response to an apology or concern, it means "not at all, don't worry." This dual nature makes it one of the most frequently used negative expressions in French.

Jamais

Jamais goes beyond a simple "no": it means "never" and conveys absolute finality. As a standalone answer, it is powerful and dramatic. The intensified form Jamais de la vie (never in my life) adds even more emotional weight.

In full sentences, Jamais pairs with ne for the standard French negation: Je ne ferai jamais ça (I will never do that). But in spoken French, the ne is frequently dropped: Je ferai jamais ça.

Absolument pas

Absolument pas is the mirror image of Absolument: where one is total agreement, the other is total rejection. It is firm without being rude, making it ideal for professional settings where you need to express strong disagreement while maintaining composure.

Pas question

Pas question is the go-to casual way to shut something down. It is blunt, emphatic, and often delivered with a hint of humor. Among friends, it is perfectly natural. In formal settings, opt for Il n'en est pas question (it is out of the question) or Absolument pas instead.

Nan

Nan is to Non what Ouais is to Oui: the relaxed, informal version you hear constantly in everyday speech. It is also used for dramatic disbelief: Naaaan, c'est pas vrai ! (Nooo, that can't be true!). You will hear this stretched-out version frequently in French films and TV shows.

How to Soften Yes and No

French culture values politeness and nuance. A bare Oui or Non often sounds too blunt. Here are the most common ways speakers soften their responses.

Regional Differences

French yes-and-no expressions carry regional flavour across the francophone world. As the OIF reports, with the majority of French speakers now living outside Europe, regional variations are an increasingly important part of the language.

In Metropolitan France, the standard forms prevail, with Ouais dominating casual speech and Oui reserved for neutral or formal contexts. Southern French speakers tend to enunciate more clearly, while Parisians are known for rapid, clipped delivery.

In Québec, Ouais often shifts to Ouain (WAH̃), and speakers frequently use Ben oui (well yes) and Ben non (well no) as casual emphatics. The distinctly Québécois Pantoute (derived from pas en tout) serves as a regional version of Pas du tout (not at all). According to Ethnologue, Québécois French preserves features of 17th-century Norman French that Metropolitan French has lost.

In West and Central Africa, affirmative and negative responses often integrate local language patterns. Repetition for emphasis (Oui, oui, oui or Non, non, non) is more common and carries less risk of sounding impatient than in Metropolitan French.

Practice With Real French Content

Understanding yes and no in French requires more than memorizing words. You need to hear how native speakers deploy these expressions with different intonations, in different contexts, and at natural speed. French films are an excellent resource: watch how characters in Intouchables casually throw around Ouais and Nan, or how political dramas use Absolument and Tout à fait in formal discussions.

Wordy lets you watch French movies and shows with interactive subtitles, so you can tap on any response to see its meaning, formality, and cultural context in real time. Instead of memorizing phrases from a list, you absorb them from real conversations with authentic intonation.

For more French language guides, explore our blog or check out the best movies to learn French for film recommendations organized by difficulty level.