New here? This is lesson 22 of a free 240-lesson French course.
No thanks, that's enough in French
Odile holds a second croissant over Sam's plate. His first one is still there, only half gone.
Gaspard sits on two chairs by the window table, café crème untouched, and is already looking at the extra pastry.
By the end, you'll turn things down politely, say that is enough, and ask for just a little.
Odile waits for a clear no. A smile is not enough at her counter.
By the end of this lesson
Turn things down politely and say that is enough.
- Non merci, ça va.No thanks, I'm fine
- Ça suffit.That's enough
- Je n'en ai pas besoin.I don't need it
- J'ai déjà ça.I already have that
- Un peu, s'il vous plaît.A little, please
- C'est trop pour moi.That's too much for me
Scene — a second croissant
Same morning crowd at Café des Tilleuls. Sam still has half a croissant on his plate. Odile is already lifting a second one from the basket.
The window table keeps its blank brass sign. Gaspard sits next to it on two chairs, café crème unfinished, eyes on the extra pastry.
Learn — no thanks and enough
Six short lines cover a polite no, that's enough, I don't need it, and I already have that.
You'll also ask for a little, and say an amount is too much for you.
Non merci, ça va.
No thanks, I'm fine
When to use it: Say this to turn down an offer politely.
Learn it as one piece when you do not want more.
Ça suffit.
That's enough
When to use it: Say this when you already have enough of something.
Learn it as one piece to stop someone offering more.
Say it: The last t in suffit is silent.
Je n'en ai pas besoin.
I don't need it
When to use it: Say this when someone offers something you do not need.
Learn it as one piece and keep every word.
Say it: N'en is elision, said as one short sound.
J'ai déjà ça.
I already have that
When to use it: Say this when you already have the thing on offer.
Learn it as one piece when you already have some.
Un peu, s'il vous plaît.
A little, please
When to use it: Ask for a small amount when a full serving is too much.
Learn it as one piece for a small amount from staff.
C'est trop pour moi.
That's too much for me
When to use it: Say this when a portion or offer is more than you want.
Learn it as one piece when the amount is too big.
Say it: The p in trop is silent.
Story — he takes it
Watch Odile offer a second croissant. Sam still has the first one.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Odile stops at Sam's table with the pastry basket.
OdileEncore un croissant ?Another croissant?
SamNon merci, ça va.No thanks, I'm fine.- OdileUn peu de confiture ?A little jam?
- SamJe n'en ai pas besoin.I don't need it.
- OdileBon, un peu de café ?A little coffee, then?
- SamUn peu, s'il vous plaît.A little, please.
- She pours. The cup fills faster than Sam wanted.
- SamÇa suffit.That's enough.
- OdileEt le croissant ?And the croissant?
- SamJ'ai déjà ça.I already have that.
- She still holds the extra one out.
- SamC'est trop pour moi.That's too much for me.
- Gaspard pulls the croissant onto his plate without looking up. His café crème sits untouched.
- OdileDu café, Gaspard ?Coffee, Gaspard?
GaspardNon, merci.No, thank you.
Practice — not too much
Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Match the pairs
French
Ça suffit.Drop the English hereJ'ai déjà ça.Drop the English hereC'est trop pour moi.Drop the English hereEnglish
What do you say?
What do you say?
You already accepted the coffee. Odile is still pouring into your cup. The level is already enough. Tell her to stop there.
Pick the reply
Odile says:
Pick the reply
Vous avez besoin d'un sac ?
Do you need a bag?
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
A little, please
Un ____, s'il vous plaît.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
C'est trop pour moi.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Odile offers another croissant. You already have one on your plate.
J'ai ____ ça.
Build the line
Build the line
That's too much for me
.
Tap the words in order.
What do you say?
What do you say?
A stranger offers you a flyer on the street. You do not want it.
Find the mistake
Find the mistake
Say it — turn it down
Now you're Sam at the counter with a croissant still on your plate. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- OdileEncore un croissant ?Another croissant?
- Sam (you)Turn the extra croissant down. You are fine.
Turn the extra croissant down. You are fine.
Non merci, ça va.
No thanks, I'm fine
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| French | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Non merci, ça va. | No thanks, I'm fine | |
| Ça suffit. | That's enough | |
| Je n'en ai pas besoin. | I don't need it | |
| J'ai déjà ça. | I already have that | |
| Un peu, s'il vous plaît. | A little, please | |
| C'est trop pour moi. | That's too much for me |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these polite nos handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your polite nos ready at the counter.
Open Yak Cards