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How to Say ‘Oh, you're not French?’ in French

Ah, vous n'êtes pas français ?

Ah voo n et pah frahn-SEH

[Ah voo n et pah frahn-SEH]

🇫🇷 In France: Said with surprise, this is usually a compliment on your French and a natural opening to keep talking.

Phrase Breakdown

Ah, vous n'êtes pas

Ah voo n et pah

Oh, you aren't

'Ah' shows mild surprise. Say 'voo NET pa'.

Example

Ah, vous n'êtes pas d'ici ?

Oh, you're not from here?

Words in this phrase

[Ah]

An exclamation expressing various emotions.

Example

Ah, je comprends maintenant.

Ah, I understand now.

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

[n]

not (negation)

Shortened form of 'ne', the first part of a negation; with 'plus' it means 'no longer / no more'.

Example

Nous n'avons plus de place ce soir.

We have no more room tonight.

êtes

[et]

are

Second person singular/plural form of 'to be'.

Example

Vous êtes ici.

You are here.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

français ?

frahn-SEH

French?

Raise your voice at the end to make it a question.

Example

Elle est française ?

Is she French?

Words in this phrase

français

[frahn-SEH]

French

The French language; also the adjective 'French'.

Example

Le français est une belle langue.

French is a beautiful language.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

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