Thursday, December 5, 2013

No Problem!

There are a few main ways to say "you're welcome" in French:
  • Je vous en prie / Je t'en prie
I feel this is a little more formal than the others, but is the canonical French response to "thank you". In some sense, it can be equivalent to "don't worry about it".
  • Pas de problème
Google translate was right. It is widely used, it's informal and it likely comes from English in the first place.
  • De rien
This phrase likely comes from the Spanish de nada. Rien means "nothing", so it could be somewhat analogous to "don't give it a second thought". But shorter and more informal.
  • Bienvenue
This is the literal translation of "welcome". Very used in Canada, but less so in other French-speaking countries as it is considered an anglicism. Its correct use is mostly one of greeting or of appreciation, like when you say, for example, that relief is welcomed.

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