French · Greetings & Essentials
"No, thank you" in French: non, merci
non, merci
No thank you in French is non, merci. It refuses politely without sounding harsh. Non seul feels blunter ; adding merci softens it.
Street flyer
Non, merci, je suis pressé.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce non, merci
Say it
nohn mair-SEE
/nɔ̃ mɛʁ.si/
Nohn mair-SEE. Clear pause or light comma between non and merci.
"No, thank you" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| non, merci | no thank you Polite refusal. | Polite refusal. |
| non merci | no thanks Same, less comma in writing. | Same, less comma in writing. |
| merci, mais non | thanks, but no Softer decline. | Softer decline. |
| ça ira, merci | I'm fine, thanks Declining help. | Declining help. |
How to use non, merci in real life
- 1Street flyer
Non, merci, je suis pressé.
No thank you; I'm in a hurry.
Full refusal.
- 2Dessert offer
Non, merci, je n'ai plus faim.
No thank you; I'm not hungry anymore.
After a meal.
- 3Shop upsell
Non merci, juste la baguette.
No thanks, just the baguette.
At the till.
Mistakes English speakers make with non, merci
Incorrect: Merci non.
Correct: Non, merci.
Order is non, merci.
Incorrect: No thank you.
Correct: Non, merci.
Use the French phrase in French conversations.
Good to know
A smile plus non, merci is enough for street petitions and samples. You rarely need a long explanation.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Declining a free sample in a mall
ChatPal
Ils offrent du parfum. Tu en veux ?
They're offering perfume. Want some?
You
Non, merci. J'ai déjà le mien.
No thank you. I already have mine.
ChatPal
Pareil. Non, merci pour moi aussi.
Same. No thank you for me too.
You
On continue vers les chaussures.
Let's keep going toward the shoes.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"No, thank you" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "No, thank you" in French
Is non alone rude?
It can sound blunt. Non, merci is softer.
Do I need the comma?
In writing, non, merci is standard; speech just pauses lightly.
How do I decline help?
Ça ira, merci or non, merci.
How do you pronounce non, merci?
Nohn mair-SEE.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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