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How to Say ‘No big deal.’ in French

C'est pas grave.

suh eh pah grahv

[suh eh pah grahv]

💬 Usage Tip: Textbook French says Ce n'est pas grave, but in speech the ne almost always drops. You'll hear C'est pas constantly, as in C'est pas mal "Not bad."

🇫🇷 In France: This is the standard reply when someone apologizes. It lets them off the hook warmly.

Phrase Breakdown

C'

[suh]

It

Used to refer to a thing previously mentioned.

Example

C'est incroyable.

It is incredible.

est

[eh]

is

Third person singular present of be.

Example

C'est important.

It is important.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

grave

[grahv]

serious

Adjective used to describe something medically important or severe.

Example

Est-ce que c'est grave selon vous ?

Is it serious in your opinion?

Related guides

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.Common French Phrases You'll Use Every Day (with Native Audio)The common French phrases and expressions people actually use every day: greetings, polite essentials, reactions and casual slang, with meanings and native audio.

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