What does rien in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word rien in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use rien in French.

The word rien in French means nothing, not ... anything, nothing, slightest thing, a tad, absolutely nothing, nothing at all, best not say anything, be scared of the slightest thing, be afraid of the slightest thing, a mountain out of a molehill, Much Ado About Nothing, good for nothing, It makes no sense!, It's better than nothing, It's a wasted effort, It's a waste of time, that's not a bundle of laughs, It doesn't cost anything to try, It doesn't cost anything to ask, It's nothing., it doesn't ring a bell, doesn't ring a bell, that doesn't really appeal, that doesn't really appeal to me, this/it doesn't look good to me, that doesn't look too good, It doesn't make any sense, there's no point, Would you mind doing ?, it could go either way, There's no point, It's no small achievement, no small matter, no mean feat, it's nothing, don't worry about it, there's no obligation, that doesn't seem good, it doesn't seem good, there's no obligation on your part, as if nothing had happened, that's OK, in no time, in no time at all, at all, in any way, in no time at all, be paid for doing nothing, get paid for doing nothing, behave as if nothing happened, act as if nothing happened, pretend not to notice, pretend not to see, loose woman, that's not the case, there is nothing to be done, he simply doesn't want to know, I'm just saying, swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, casually, nonchalantly, nonchalantly, without realising it, nobody, have no liking for anything, have nothing more to prove, be as good as , be just as good as , be every bit as good as, be as good as , be just as good as , be every bit as good as, have nothing to lose, have nothing to feel bad about, have nothing to feel guilty about, have nothing between your ears, be a dope, be no, come as no surprise, have not done any harm, not give a damn, not give a s***, not give a damn, could not care less, could not care less about, couldn't care less, not give a toss about, not give a toss, not commit to anything, have no protection at all, not have any protection at all, have nothing to do with it, can't do anything about it, don't take it personally, not [verb] anything, want for nothing, lead to nothing, not be afraid of anything, have nothing to eat, have nothing to get your teeth into, have nothing to feel guilty about, have nothing to feel bad about, have nothing between your ears, have nothing between your ears, have no guts, be nothing special, take nothing away from, leave nothing to chance, leave nothing in your trail, get what you deserve, get what's coming to you, lose nothing by waiting, have nothing to lose by waiting, be completely useless, be of no use at all, not deny yourself anything, deny yourself nothing, not have any of it, be pointless, be senseless, not suspect anything, not suspect a thing, serve no purpose, be no use doing , be no good doing, not take much, no pain, no gain, it's not worth anything, you cannot get anything out of him/her, you can never get anything out of him/her, there's no fooling you, you know everything, there's nothing we can do, there's nothing to be done. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word rien

nothing

(néant)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
- Qu'est-ce que tu as mangé ce matin ? - Rien.
What have you eaten this morning? - Nothing.

not ... anything

(absence)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Je ne vois rien sans mes lunettes.
I cannot see anything without my glasses.

nothing

(absence)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
Rien ne va pour moi en ce moment.
Nothing's going right for me at the moment.

slightest thing

nom masculin (chose sans importance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il suffit d'un rien pour l'énerver en ce moment.
The slightest thing is enough to annoy him at the moment.

a tad

adverbe (familier (un peu) (informal)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il était un rien énervé.
He was a tad annoyed.

absolutely nothing, nothing at all

locution adverbiale (rien du tout)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")

best not say anything

(mieux vaut se taire)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Autant ne rien dire quand il est en colère.

be scared of the slightest thing, be afraid of the slightest thing

locution verbale (s'effrayer de peu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette femme ne sort jamais le soir car elle a peur d'un rien.

a mountain out of a molehill

(tapage indu) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Much Ado About Nothing

nom propre (pièce de Shakespeare) (Shakespeare play)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

good for nothing

nom masculin (ignare fainéant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

It makes no sense!

(situation incompréhensible)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

It's better than nothing

(c'est un pis-aller)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

It's a wasted effort, It's a waste of time

(ça ne fait pas avancer les choses)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

that's not a bundle of laughs

(familier (ce n'est pas génial) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Passer les vacances chez ta sœur, ça n'a rien de folichon.

It doesn't cost anything to try

(il faut essayer)

It doesn't cost anything to ask

(il faut demander)

It's nothing.

(ce n'est pas grave)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
- Je suis désolé, je ne pourrai pas t'amener demain. - Ça ne fait rien !

it doesn't ring a bell, doesn't ring a bell

(ça ne me rappelle rien)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

that doesn't really appeal, that doesn't really appeal to me

(je n'en ai pas envie)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

this/it doesn't look good to me

(ça ne m'inspire pas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Ça ne me dit rien qui vaille, toute cette attente.

that doesn't look too good

(le pire est à craindre)

It doesn't make any sense

(cela n'a aucun sens)

there's no point

(c'est inutile)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Would you mind doing ?

(cela vous dérangerait-il de faire [qch]) (polite request)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

it could go either way

(figuré, familier (il manque peu de chose)

There's no point

(c'est inutile)

It's no small achievement, no small matter, no mean feat

(Ce n'est pas négligeable !)

it's nothing

(réponse polie à un remerciement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

don't worry about it

(réponse polie à des excuses)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

there's no obligation

(c'est sans engagement)

that doesn't seem good, it doesn't seem good

(cela ne m'inspire pas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Toute cette attente, cela ne me dit rien qui vaille.

there's no obligation on your part

(cela n'engendre pas d'obligation)

as if nothing had happened

(en ignorant ce qui s'est passé)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Après son opération du cœur, il est revenu au travail comme si de rien n'était.

that's OK

interjection (ce n'est rien, au plaisir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
- Oh, vous m'avez apporté des chocolats ! Merci ! - De rien. De rien, je t'en prie, c'était un plaisir !
Please, don't mention it; it was a pleasure.

in no time, in no time at all

locution adverbiale (vieilli (très rapidement) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

at all, in any way

locution adverbiale (soutenu (pas du tout) (preceded by "not")

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je ne suis en rien concerné par ce projet.

in no time at all

locution adverbiale (très rapidement)

be paid for doing nothing, get paid for doing nothing

locution verbale (péjoratif (ne pas travailler assez)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

behave as if nothing happened, act as if nothing happened

locution verbale (ignorer volontairement les faits)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quand j'ai revu Romain après l'incident, il a fait comme si rien ne s'était passé.

pretend not to notice, pretend not to see

locution verbale (feindre d'ignorer [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il a écouté en faisant semblant de rien pour connaître tous les sons de cloche.

loose woman

nom féminin (femme de petite vertu) (pejorative, dated)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

that's not the case

(c'est faux)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Tu m'accuses d'avoir pris ton livre mais il n'en est rien, cherche bien, tu le retrouveras.

there is nothing to be done

(on ne peut rien y changer)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il n'y a rien à faire, cette voiture est irréparable.
There is nothing to be done as this car is beyond repair.

he simply doesn't want to know

(il n'accepte aucun argument)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Impossible de le faire changer d'avis, il ne veut rien savoir.

I'm just saying

(je dis ça comme ça)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth

locution verbale (serment d'un témoin) (oath in court)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le témoin jure devant la cour de dire la vérité, toute la vérité et rien que la vérité.

casually, nonchalantly

nom masculin (sans en avoir l'air, mine de rien)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
The guest casually pocketed the little carved figure.

nonchalantly

locution adverbiale (discrètement)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
Il attrapa mine de rien une flûte de champagne.

without realising it

locution adverbiale (sans qu'on s'en rende compte)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Mine de rien, organiser la fête d'anniversaire de Camille m'a demandé beaucoup de temps. Eh bien, mine de rien, ça fait quand même 4 heures qu'on travaille !

nobody

nom masculin et féminin invariable (personne négligeable)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

have no liking for anything

locution verbale (être apathique)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing more to prove

locution verbale (avoir fait ses preuves)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be as good as , be just as good as , be every bit as good as

locution verbale (soutenir largement une comparaison)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be as good as , be just as good as , be every bit as good as

locution verbale (être au moins de même valeur que [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing to lose

locution verbale (avoir intérêt à essayer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing to feel bad about, have nothing to feel guilty about

locution verbale (avoir bien agi)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing between your ears

locution verbale (péjoratif (ne pas être très futé) (colloquial)

be a dope

locution verbale (familier (être stupide) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be no

locution verbale (ne pas être du tout [qch])

Je la connais, franchement, elle n'a rien d'une femme timide !
I know her and let me tell you she's no shrinking violet!

come as no surprise

locution verbale (ne pas être étonnant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Paul n'a pas eu son examen ? Cela n'a rien de surprenant : il n'avait absolument pas révisé.
Paul didn't pass his exam? That comes as no surprise; he didn't revise at all.

have not done any harm

locution verbale (ne pas avoir voulu indisposer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle n'a rien fait de mal ; elle voulait seulement voir le tableau de plus près.

not give a damn

locution verbale (très familier (se ficher de [qch]) (potentially offensive, slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not give a s***

locution verbale (vulgaire (se ficher de [qch]) (offensive, vulgar, slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not give a damn

locution verbale (familier (se ficher de [qch]) (potentially offensive, slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

could not care less

locution verbale (se moquer de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il me déteste ? Et alors ? Je n'en ai rien à faire, moi !
He hates me? And? I couldn't care less, personally!

could not care less about

locution verbale (se moquer de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il n'en a rien à faire de tes histoires.
He couldn't care less about your stories.

couldn't care less

locution verbale (familier (s'en moquer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je n'en ai rien à ficher que cela ne t'arrange pas !

not give a toss about

locution verbale (vulgaire (s'en moquer) (slang, vulgar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not give a toss

locution verbale (très familier (s'en moquer) (vulgar)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

not commit to anything

locution verbale (être sans risque)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vous pouvez toujours venir jeter un coup d'œil (à la marchandise) : cela n'engage à rien.
You can always come and take a look (at the goods); there's no commitment involved.

have no protection at all, not have any protection at all

locution verbale (susceptible d'être touché)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Jean se pense protégé par son statut de délégué syndical mais il n'est à l'abri de rien.

have nothing to do with it

locution verbale (être innocent)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet enfant n'y est pour rien, il n'était pas là au moment de l'accident.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. It was her doing. I wasn't involved.

can't do anything about it

locution verbale (ne pas pouvoir changer les choses)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

don't take it personally

(c'est pareil pour les autres)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
N'y vois rien de personnel mais je ne relirai pas ton rapport.

not [verb] anything

locution adverbiale (expression d'une négation)

Je n'ai rien mangé.
I have eaten nothing.

want for nothing

locution verbale (avoir tout ce dont on a besoin)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

lead to nothing

locution verbale (être inutile)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
All these questions have led to nothing.

not be afraid of anything

locution verbale (tout oser)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing to eat

locution verbale (ne rien avoir à manger)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing to get your teeth into

locution verbale (figuré (ne pas être occupé) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je n'ai rien à me mettre sous la dent cet après-midi.

have nothing to feel guilty about, have nothing to feel bad about

locution verbale (avoir la conscience tranquille)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have nothing between your ears

locution verbale (familier (être bête) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Que veux-tu que j'y fasse ? Il n'a rien dans le ciboulot, il ne fait que des bêtises.

have nothing between your ears

locution verbale (familier (ne pas être futé) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

have no guts

locution verbale (familier (être un pleutre) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be nothing special

locution verbale (familier (ne pas être exceptionnel)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take nothing away from

locution verbale (ne pas nuire à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

leave nothing to chance

locution verbale (figuré (penser à tout)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

leave nothing in your trail

locution verbale (figuré (tout dévaster)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

get what you deserve, get what's coming to you

locution verbale (devoir s'attendre à une vengeance)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

lose nothing by waiting, have nothing to lose by waiting

locution verbale (vieilli (gagner [qch] à repousser [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be completely useless, be of no use at all

locution verbale (être un incapable, être bon à rien)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ce stagiaire ne sait rien faire de ses dix doigts.

not deny yourself anything, deny yourself nothing

locution verbale (se faire grandement plaisir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Tu as une nouvelle voiture de sport ? Eh bien, on ne se refuse rien !

not have any of it

locution verbale (ne pas démordre d'une idée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai voulu expliquer à mes parents pourquoi il était important que je parte en vacances avec mes potes, mais ils n'ont rien voulu entendre.
I wanted to explain to my parents why it was important for me to go on holiday with my mates, but they weren't having any of it.

be pointless, be senseless

(un peu familier (ne pas avoir de sens)

Ces disputes ne riment à rien ! Essayez plutôt de trouver un compromis.

not suspect anything, not suspect a thing

locution verbale (ne rien soupçonner)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

serve no purpose

locution verbale (être inutile)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. There is no point in arguing - it's useless.

be no use doing , be no good doing

locution verbale (être inutile)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il ne sert à rien de s'énerver, ça ne va pas résoudre le problème.
There is no point in getting angry; that won't solve the problem.

not take much

locution verbale (pouvoir évoluer dans un sens ou un autre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

no pain, no gain

(il faut s'investir pour obtenir)

it's not worth anything

(objet : ça ne se vendrait pas cher) (money)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Cet aspirateur est trop vieux, on ne peut rien en tirer. Mieux vaut le donner à recycler.

you cannot get anything out of him/her, you can never get anything out of him/her

(cette personne est obtuse) (informal: person)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Inutile de discuter avec lui, on ne peut rien en tirer.

there's no fooling you

(tu devines tout) (informal)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
C'était une surprise mais on ne peut rien te cacher.

you know everything

(tu es clairvoyant) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Tu sauras quoi faire, on ne peut rien te cacher.

there's nothing we can do, there's nothing to be done

(c'est comme ça)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Let's learn French

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