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How to Say ‘I don't have any cash.’ in French

Je n'ai pas d'espèces.

zhuh n ay pah dee ess-pehs

[zhuh n ay pah dee ess-pehs]

💬 Usage Tip: After pas, the words for "some" or "any" shrink to de, or d' before a vowel. So j'ai des espèces becomes je n'ai pas d'espèces.

Phrase Breakdown

Je n'ai pas

zhuh n ay pah

I don't have

'N'ai' sounds like 'nè'. Say 'jeu nè pa'.

Example

Je n'ai pas le temps.

I don't have time.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

[n]

not

Shortened form of 'ne', used in negation before a vowel, as in 'n'est pas'.

Example

Ce n'est pas grave selon le médecin.

It is not serious according to the doctor.

[ay]

have

Form of 'avoir' used with past participles to make the past tense.

Example

J'ai beaucoup appris grâce à notre discussion.

I learned a lot thanks to our discussion.

pas

[pah]

not

Used with 'ne' to form a negative.

Example

Je ne comprends pas.

I do not understand.

d'espèces.

dee ess-pehs

any cash.

After a negation, 'des' becomes 'de', so you get 'd'espèces'. Say 'dès-pès'.

Example

Vous avez des espèces ? Non, pas d'espèces.

Do you have cash? No, no cash.

Words in this phrase

[dee]

Used to indicate possession or connection.

Example

Le livre d'un ami.

The book of a friend.

espèces

[ess-pehs]

cash

Means cash money, notes and coins.

Example

Je vais payer en espèces si c'est plus simple.

I'm going to pay in cash if that's easier.

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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