Also use this phrase when you’re speaking to an adult who is older than you or in a position of authority. If you’re traveling to France and can only learn one way to say “you’re welcome” in French, this is probably the best one to choose. Although you may be overly formal in some situations, you never run the risk of offending anyone for being too casual if you use this phrase.
For example, if you and a coworker or colleague you don’t know very well have just finished working on a project together and they say “merci,” you might respond “merci à vous. " Since “vous” is used in this phrase as well, it’s appropriate in situations where you don’t know the person who’s thanking you, they’re much older than you, or they’re in a position of authority over you.
Often, this phrase is shortened to simply “c’est moi. " The rest of the phrase is understood by French speakers. The shortened form is typically used in more casual situations, such as if you’re talking to someone you don’t know but who is around the same age as you.
For example, if you held the door for a person behind you as you were entering a shop and they said “merci,” you might say “de rien. " This is considered an informal phrase and should never be used in formal situations.
This phrase is also often shortened. You may hear “n’y a pas de quoi,” “yah pas de quoi,” or simply “pas de quoi. "
This phrase is informal but not casual. Use it when you feel like the situation is a bit too serious for “de rien” or a similar phrase.
In the same situation, you could also say “c’est moi qui te remercie” (say mwah kee teh reh-mair-see) or simply “c’est moi. "
This phrase is used similar to the way you might say “no worries” in English, and is considered slang by some French people, particularly those who are older. Only use it in the most informal of situations.
This phrase isn’t used in the same way in other regions of France. However, in the south, you’ll often hear it used as an alternative to “de rien. " Like “de rien,” it’s considered casual speech and should only be used with people you know well.
In Canada, this can be used in almost any context. However, you’d still want to go with a more formal French “je vous en prie” if you were speaking to someone significantly older than you or in a position of authority.
If you’re responding to thanks from a close friend, you might instead say “s’il te plaît. " But, again, don’t use this phrase outside of Belgium. You won’t be understood.
Outside Switzerland, it’s unlikely anyone would understand what you meant if you said this in response to “merci. "
