nounadverb

le non

C'est une réponse que l'on donne pour refuser ou dire que l'on n'est pas d'accord.

Definition & meaning

Non is the French word for “no” or “not.” It is mainly used to express refusal, negation, or disagreement.

As a direct negative answer: “No.”
- Non, merci. — “No, thank you.”
To negate or contradict something:
- Ce n’est pas vrai. — “That is not true.”
As a noun, un non means “a no,” referring to a refusal or negative response:
- Elle a dit non. — “She said no.”
As a prefix, non- means “non-,” “not,” or “opposite of.”
- non-fumeur — “non-smoker”
- non officiel — “unofficial”

Grammar & Word origin

Non is primarily an invariable adverb and interjection. It does not change according to gender or number.

It can stand alone:

Non. — “No.”

It can also appear before a noun, adjective, or phrase to form a contrast or negation:

non commercial — “non-commercial”
non seulement… mais aussi… — “not only… but also…”

The word comes from Latin nōn, meaning “not” or “no.” In ordinary sentences, French usually expresses negation with ne… pas, while non is commonly used as an independent answer or for strong contrast.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

pas — “not” or “no,” usually used as part of the structure ne… pas. Unlike non, it generally cannot stand alone as the normal answer to a yes-or-no question.
nullement — “not at all”; stronger and more formal than non.
aucunement — “in no way” or “not at all”; formal and emphatic.
refus — “refusal”; a noun describing the act or result of saying non, rather than the negative word itself.