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How to Say ‘It is not’ in French

Ce n'est pas

suh n eh pah

[suh n eh pah]

💬 Usage Tip: Contraction of 'ce ne est pas'.

🇫🇷 In France: Negatives are crucial in French for clear communication.

Phrase Breakdown

Ce

[suh]

It

Used to refer to a general condition or situation.

Example

Ce n'est pas ce que je voulais dire.

It is not what I meant.

n'est

n eh

is not

The contraction of 'ne est', used for negating 'is'.

Example

Il n'est pas là.

He is not there.

Words in this phrase

n'

[n]

is not

A negation of existence or identity.

Example

Ce n'est pas le bon chemin.

It is not the right path.

est

[eh]

is

The third person singular of the verb 'to be'.

Example

C'est un bon itinéraire.

It is a good itinerary.

pas

[pah]

not

Used to negate a statement or phrase.

Example

Ce n'est pas mon choix.

This is not my choice.

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