🤷🌰

How to Say ‘Never mind, I'll have a noisette instead.’ in French

Tant pis, je vais plutôt prendre un noisette.

TAHN PEE zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr uhn nwah-ZET

[TAHN PEE zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr uhn nwah-ZET]

💬 Usage Tip: Plutôt after the verb means "instead" or "rather": je vais plutôt prendre un thé "I'll have tea instead".

Phrase Breakdown

Tant pis,

TAHN PEE

Oh well,

This expresses acceptance of a small disappointment. Both final letters are silent: 'tan pee'.

Example

Tant pis, ce n'est pas grave.

Oh well, it doesn't matter.

Words in this phrase

Tant

[TAHN]

so (part of 'tant pis')

Used in the fixed phrase 'tant pis', meaning never mind / too bad.

Example

Tant pis pour lui.

Too bad for him.

pis

[PEE]

worse

Adverb meaning worse; with 'tant' it means 'too bad'.

Example

Tant pis, on part.

Never mind, let's go.

je vais plutôt prendre

zhuh veh ploo-toh prahn-dr

I'll have instead

'Plutôt' signals a change of choice. Say 'zhuh vay plu-toh prondr'.

Example

Je vais plutôt prendre un crème.

I'll have a coffee with milk instead.

Words in this phrase

[zhuh]

Pronoun used by the speaker to identify themselves.

Example

Je suis content.

I am happy.

vais

[veh]

am going to

Present tense of 'go,' used to express future intention.

Example

Je vais préparer le dîner.

I am going to prepare dinner.

plutôt

[ploo-toh]

rather

Used to soften or refine a preference, like saying rather or instead.

Example

Plutôt à l'ombre, s'il vous plaît.

Rather in the shade, please.

prendre

[prahn-dr]

to have / to take

Common verb for taking or ordering food in a restaurant.

Example

Si j'ai faim, je demande : Je peux prendre l'entrée ?

If I’m hungry, I ask: Can I have the starter?

un noisette.

uhn nwah-ZET

a noisette.

This is an espresso with a little milk. 'Un' is used because 'café' is implied.

Example

Deux noisettes, merci.

Two noisettes, thanks.

Words in this phrase

[uhn]

a / an

An indefinite article used before a masculine singular noun.

Example

Un casque est important pour le roller.

A helmet is important for inline skating.

noisette

[nwah-ZET]

espresso with a dash of milk

Literally 'hazelnut'; a café noisette is an espresso with a drop of milk, named for its colour.

Example

Un noisette, s'il vous plaît.

An espresso with a dash of milk, please.

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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