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Lesson 10 of 240

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Yes and no in French

Sam is at Café des Tilleuls on his first morning. Odile checks whether the café crème is for him, then offers another croissant.

Sam agrees too quickly. Gaspard watches from the next table, pleased, while his café crème stays unfinished.

Learn clear yes-and-no answers, from a polite yes to a hesitant one. These ready-made replies help you answer a question instead of stopping at oui or non.

Keep bonjour for the café door. « Ça marche » comes later; this lesson is about answers, not agreeing to a plan.

By the end of this lesson

Answer yes-or-no questions with a clear, natural reply.

  • Oui, s'il vous plaît.Yes, please
  • Non, merci.No, thank you
  • Bien sûr.Of course
  • Pas vraiment.Not really
  • D'accord.Okay
  • Je pense que oui.I think so

Scene — one more croissant

It is still Sam's first morning at Café des Tilleuls. Odile is behind the zinc counter, and the window table remains empty.

Gaspard sits at the next table with his croissant and unfinished café crème. Odile checks Sam's order, then offers another croissant.

A wide morning view of Café des Tilleuls with Odile behind the zinc, Sam at the counter, Gaspard at the next table on two chairs, and the window table empty.

Learn — clear yes and no

Six replies help you accept, decline, agree, or sound unsure.

One answer is a polite yes; another says no with thanks. Learn each whole line, not only oui or non.

  1. Sam leans in at the zinc and reaches toward the extra croissant Odile is sliding across on a small plate.

    Oui, s'il vous plaît.

    Yes, please

    When to use it: Use this polite yes when accepting an offer from café staff.

    Learn it as one piece for accepting politely.

    Say it: The apostrophe in s'il marks an elision; keep s'il together.

  2. Gaspard’s unfinished café crème sits on the table while a hoof lifts in a polite refusal of another cup.

    Non, merci.

    No, thank you

    When to use it: Use this polite no when you do not want what someone offers.

    Learn it as one piece to decline politely.

  3. Over Sam’s shoulder, Odile gives a sure nod and turns toward the coffee machine with a clean cup.

    Bien sûr.

    Of course

    When to use it: Use this warm yes when you are happy to agree.

    Learn it as one piece for an easy, confident yes.

  4. Sam tips a head and opens one palm in a modest, uncertain agreement to a third croissant.

    Pas vraiment.

    Not really

    When to use it: Use this when the answer is mostly no, but you want to soften it.

    Learn it as one piece for a gentle, unsure answer.

  5. From above the zinc, Sam lowers onto a stool and flattens both palms on the counter in a settled confirming nod.

    D'accord.

    Okay

    When to use it: Use this to accept what someone suggests or tells you.

    Learn it as one piece when you agree to something.

    Say it: The apostrophe in D'accord marks an elision; say it as one connected word.

  6. From low on the floor, Gaspard sits on two chairs and gazes toward the empty window table, unfinished café crème still waiting.

    Je pense que oui.

    I think so

    When to use it: Use this when you think the answer is yes but are not completely sure.

    Learn it as one piece for a yes with a little uncertainty.

Story — sam says yes

Odile checks Sam's order and offers him another croissant. Gaspard watches from his usual table beside the window table.

Listen for clear answers: Sam accepts, while Gaspard politely declines. The highlighted lines are ready-made replies.

  1. Odile looks up from the counter as Sam comes in.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. SamBonjour.Hello.
  4. OdileUn café crème pour vous, Sam ?A café crème for you, Sam?
  5. SamOui, s'il vous plaît.Yes, please.
  6. OdileUn deuxième croissant ?A second croissant?
  7. SamBien sûr.Of course.
  8. OdileEt pour vous, monsieur, un autre café crème ?And for you, sir, another café crème?
  9. GaspardPas vraiment. Non, merci.Not really. No, thank you.
  10. OdileVous en voulez un troisième, Sam ?Would you like a third one, Sam?
  11. SamJe pense que oui.I think so.
  12. OdileJe vous apporte tout ça.I'll bring all that to you.
  13. SamD'accord.Okay.
  14. Gaspard looks pleased. His café crème remains unfinished.

Practice — answer the question

Listen, match meanings, fill a gap, build a line, and choose a reply.

Each quick round helps you answer the question clearly, rather than giving only a bare yes or no.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Non, merci.Drop the English here
    Bien sûr.Drop the English here
    Pas vraiment.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. Fill the gap

    Of course

    ____ sûr.

  4. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Vous avez encore faim ?

    Are you still hungry?

    And you reply with:

  5. Build the line

    I think so

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  6. Swap the word

    You want to politely refuse an offer. Change the yes in the base line to no.

    ____, merci.

  7. What do you say?

    Odile says she will bring your order. Acknowledge her.

  8. What does it mean?

    Je pense que oui.

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into the café in the morning and greet Odile.

  10. What do you say?

    Odile sets your café crème and croissant on the counter. Thank her.

Say it — say it clearly

Now you're Sam at the counter. Answer Odile clearly when she offers you a drink or another croissant.

Tap the microphone when it is your turn. You can tap the play button first to hear the line.

  1. OdileUn café crème pour vous, Sam ?A café crème for you, Sam?
  2. Sam (you)Accept politely.

    Oui, s'il vous plaît.

    Yes, please

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
Oui, s'il vous plaît.Yes, please
Non, merci.No, thank you
Bien sûr.Of course
Pas vraiment.Not really
D'accord.Okay
Je pense que oui.I think so
Next: lesson 11Is it or isn't it

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