French · Greetings & Essentials
"Yes" in French: oui
oui
Yes in French is oui, said wee. Friends often say ouais, which sounds more casual. To contradict a negative question, French uses si instead of oui.
Confirming a plan
Oui, je viens à 18 heures.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce oui
Say it
wee
/wi/
Oui is a single short sound: wee. Do not add an English y glide at the start. Ouais sounds like way, looser and informal.
"Yes" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| oui | yes The standard yes for every situation. | The standard yes for every situation. |
| ouais | yeah Informal, for friends and relaxed speech. | Informal, for friends and relaxed speech. |
| si | yes (to contradict a negative) Answer to "you don't…?" when the truth is yes, you do. | Answer to "you don't…?" when the truth is yes, you do. |
| oui, bien sûr | yes, of course Warm agreement, polite and friendly. | Warm agreement, polite and friendly. |
How to use oui in real life
- 1Confirming a plan
Oui, je viens à 18 heures.
Yes, I'm coming at 6 p.m.
A clear oui plus a detail is natural in plans.
- 2Casual chat with a friend
Oui, ça me va parfaitement.
Yes, that works perfectly for me.
A clear oui still fits relaxed talk with friends.
- 3Warm agreement
Oui, bien sûr, je viens avec vous.
Yes, of course, I'm coming with you.
Oui, bien sûr sounds friendly and sure.
Mistakes English speakers make with oui
Incorrect: Oui, je n'ai pas faim. (answering "Tu n'as pas faim ?" when you ARE hungry)
Correct: Si, j'ai faim !
When someone assumes a negative and you need to contradict it, French uses si, not oui.
Incorrect: Yes, d'accord.
Correct: Oui, d'accord.
Use the French word oui. Mixing in English yes sounds unnatural in a French sentence.
Good to know
French speakers nod and say oui often while listening, as a soft backchannel. A drawn-out ouiii can signal doubt. For firm agreement, oui, d'accord or bien sûr sounds clearer.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Confirming dinner plans with a friend
ChatPal
On se voit ce soir pour la pizza ?
Are we meeting tonight for pizza?
You
Oui, à vingt heures devant le resto.
Yes, at 8 p.m. in front of the restaurant.
ChatPal
Oui ? Super, j'ai hâte.
Yes? Great, I can't wait.
You
Oui, moi aussi !
Yes, me too!
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Yes" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Yes" in French
What is the difference between oui and ouais?
Oui is neutral. Ouais means yeah and stays informal, like chat with friends.
When do I use si instead of oui?
Use si to contradict a negative idea: Tu ne viens pas ? — Si, je viens !
How do you pronounce oui?
Like wee. Keep it short; do not say "oo-ee" as two heavy beats.
Can I just nod instead of saying oui?
A nod helps, but a spoken oui is clearer on the phone and in noisy places.
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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