How to Say You're Welcome in French (and the Bienvenue Trap)
You're welcome in French: de rien casually, je vous en prie formally, avec plaisir for warmth. And why bienvenue is a trap - except in Quebec.
You’re welcome in French is de rien /duh RYEHN/ in everyday situations, and je vous en prie /zhuh voo-zahn PREE/ in formal ones. For extra warmth, say avec plaisir (with pleasure). Careful: in France, bienvenue only welcomes people to a place - though in Quebec it does mean “you’re welcome.”
Quick answer
You’re welcome in French is de rien /duh RYEHN/ in everyday situations, and je vous en prie /zhuh voo-zahn PREE/ in formal ones. For extra warmth, say avec plaisir (with pleasure). Careful: in France, bienvenue only welcomes people to a place - though in Quebec it does mean “you’re welcome.”
Reply to merci at the right register, with native audio. Get it on the App Store or Google Play.
De rien: the everyday default
Literally “of nothing” - it was nothing. Casual-neutral, fine in almost any informal situation. Variant: (il n’y a) pas de quoi /pah duh KWAH/, or the even shorter c’est rien.
Je vous en prie / je t’en prie: the polished pair
The formal (vous) and warm-informal (te) versions, both literally something closer to “I beg you of it” - used as a polished way to grant something. You’ll hear it constantly from shop staff to customers, and in any formal context where de rien would feel too casual. Bonus usage: it also works for “after you” or granting permission more broadly. See using tu vs vous correctly for the register logic behind the choice.
Warm and specific alternatives
| Reply | Pronunciation | Register | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|
| avec plaisir | /ah-vek pleh-ZEER/ | friendly | with pleasure - common in the South |
| c’est moi (qui vous remercie) | - | service exchanges | ”it’s me who thanks you” - the flip |
| tout le plaisir est pour moi | - | gallant | the pleasure is all mine |
One to avoid: a literal “anytime” calque isn’t natural French - stick with the phrases above.
The bienvenue trap (France vs Quebec)
For the fuller France/Quebec vocabulary map this trap belongs to, see Quebec French vs France French.
Which one should you use? (decision recap)
- Friend → de rien / je t’en prie
- Formal → je vous en prie
- Warm → avec plaisir
- Montreal → bienvenue is fine
De rien covers the vast majority of everyday exchanges - add je vous en prie for anything formal, and you’re set for nearly every “thank you” you’ll ever receive. For the phrase this all replies to, see how to say thank you in French.
Reply at the right register
LexiFr teaches French politeness with nuance and native audio - from de rien to je vous en prie.
Free to start - no ads, no streak guilt. Your first 200 words are waiting.
Questions about this note
What does de rien literally mean?
"Of nothing" - it was nothing.
Is je vous en prie formal?
Yes - the polished formal reply; je t'en prie is its informal twin.
Can I say bienvenue for you're welcome?
In Quebec, yes; in France, no - there it strictly means "welcome to [a place]."
What does pas de quoi mean?
Short for il n'y a pas de quoi - "no need [to thank me]."
What's the warmest way to reply to merci?
avec plaisir, or the more gallant tout le plaisir est pour moi.