Oui, Bien Sûr! A Guide to Saying Yes in French

A nod or a thumbs up often settles things fast. But what about saying yes in French? This language is rich and diverse, and there are many ways to agree that can make you sound like a local. Both formal and informal phrases come into play, so you’ll be ready for any situation. This guide will walk you through the most common and useful ways to say yes in French.

Basic Phrases: Oui Meaning and Usage

There are many common French words to know that help in daily conversations; “yes” is one of them. Below, we will explore some of the most useful options:

• Oui [wi] – Yes. The most straightforward way to agree or affirm something.

Vous aimez le café? Oui, beaucoup. [vu.z‿ɛ.me lə ka.fe? wi, boku] – Do you like coffee? Yes, a lot.

• Bien sûr [bjɛ̃ syʁ] – Of course. Strong agreement or confirmation without hesitation.

Tu veux essayer ça aussi? Bien sûr, pourquoi pas! [ty vø esɛje sa ˈosi? bjɛ̃ syʁ, puʁkwa pa] – Do you want to try this as well? Of course, why not!

• Absolument [apsɔlymɑ̃] – Absolutely. Emphasizes a very strong agreement.

Cela semble correct, n’est-ce pas? Absolument, je suis d’accord. [səla sɑ̃bl kɔʁɛk, nɛ sə pa? apsɔlymɑ̃, ʒə sɥi dakɔʁ] – That seems correct, doesn’t it? Absolutely, I agree.

• D’accord [d‿akɔʁ] – Okay. D’accord meaning is the same as in English; it indicates agreement or acceptance of a suggestion.

Nous allons là-bas demain, d’accord? [nu z‿alɔ̃ la ba dəmɛ̃, dakɔʁ?] – We are going there tomorrow, okay?

• Exactement [ɛɡzaktəmɑ̃] – Exactly. Used to confirm that something is precisely correct.

C’est ce que je pensais. Exactement! [sɛ sə kə ʒə pɑ̃se. ɛɡzaktəmɑ̃!] – That’s what I thought. Exactly!

Informal Expressions for French Yes

Sometimes, casual settings call for relaxed phrases. Different ways to say yes help you relate better in social situations. Below are some informal expressions and French slang words that suit conversations with friends or family:

• Ouais [wɛ] – Yeah. A very casual affirmation, often used among friends.

Tu viens demain? Ouais, j’arriverai vers midi. [ty vjɛ̃ dəmɛ̃? wɛ, ʒaʁivəʁe vɛʁ midi] – Are you coming tomorrow? Yeah, I’ll arrive around noon.

• C’est bon [sɛ bɔ̃] – It’s good/Okay. C’est bon meaning is straightforward; it’s used to agree with a proposal.

On part à 17 heures, c’est bon pour toi? [ɔ̃ paʁ a disɛt œʁ, sɛ bɔ̃ puʁ twa?] – We’re leaving at 17:00. Is that okay for you?

• Ça marche [sa maʁʃ] – That works. Used to agree with a plan or suggestion.

On se voit à huit heures? Ça marche, à demain! [ɔ̃ sə vwa a ɥit œʁ? sa maʁʃ, a dəmɛ̃!] – We’re meeting at eight o’clock? That works. See you tomorrow!

• Mouais [mwe] – Hmm, yes. A non-committal or hesitant yes, often implying mixed feelings.

C’est une bonne idée, ça? Mouais, je suppose. [sɛ t‿yn bɔn ide, sa? mwe, ʒə sypoz] – Is that a good idea? Hmm, yes, I suppose.

• Carrément [kaʁemɑ̃] – Totally. Indicates strong agreement or enthusiasm for the suggestion.

Tu penses qu’on devrait y aller? Carrément, ne perdons pas de temps! [ty pɑ̃s kɔ̃ dəvʁɛ i ale? kaʁemɑ̃, nə pɛʁdɔ̃ pa də tɑ̃] – Do you think we should go? Totally, let’s not waste any time!

• Grave [ɡʁav] – Seriously. Confirms something seriously or intensely.

Ce film était bien? Grave, tu dois le voir! [sə film etɛ bjɛ̃? ɡʁav, ty dwa lə vwaʁ] – Was the movie good? Seriously, you have to see it!

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Formal Approaches to Agreement in French

When you need to show respect or speak to someone in authority, formal phrases become essential. These expressions help you appear courteous and professional. Let’s look at how do you say yes in French formal settings:

• Je suis d’accord [ʒə sɥi dakɔʁ] – I agree. Formally acknowledges agreement on a matter.

Je suis d’accord avec les termes du contrat. [ʒə sɥi dakɔʁ avɛk le tɛʁm dy kɔ̃tʁa] – I agree with the terms of the contract.

• Tout à fait [tu ta fɛ] – Absolutely. Strongly affirms the correctness or suitability of something.

Tout à fait, c’est précisément ce dont nous avons besoin. [tu ta fɛ, sɛ pʁesizemɑ̃ sə dɔ̃ nu z‿avɔ̃ bəzwɛ̃] – Absolutely, it is exactly what we need.

• En effet [ɑ̃n‿‿ɛfɛ] – Indeed. Conveys agreement while reinforcing a previously mentioned point.

Il a beaucoup contribué au projet, en effet. [il a boku kɔ̃tʁibɥe o pʁɔʒɛ, ɑ̃n‿ɛfɛ] – He contributed a lot to the project, indeed.

• Assurément [asyʁemɑ̃] – Assuredly. Confirms agreement with certainty and assurance.

Peut-on compter sur votre soutien pour cette décision? Assurément. [pø tɔ̃ kɔ̃te syʁ votʁ sutjɛ̃ puʁ sɛt desizjɔ̃? asyʁemɑ̃] – Can we count on your support for this decision? Assuredly.

Agreeing Enthusiastically: Synonyms for Yes That Show Excitement

You might want to show strong support and positivity in certain conversations. Different expressions can convey your excitement and eagerness, which energizes your interactions with locals. In the list below, we will show how to say yes in French enthusiastically:

• Super! [sypɛʁ] – Great! Expresses joy and approval with enthusiasm.

On va à la plage demain? Super, j’ai hâte! [ɔ̃ va a la plaʒ dəmɛ̃? sypɛʁ, ʒe at] – Are we going to the beach tomorrow? Great, I can’t wait!

• Génial! [ʒenjal] – Awesome! Shows a high level of excitement and approval.

Ils ont accepté ta proposition? Génial, c’était une excellente idée! [ilz‿ɔ̃t‿aksepte ta pʁɔpozisjɔ̃? ʒenjal, s‿etɛ yn ɛksɛlɑ̃t ide] – Did they accept your proposal? Awesome, that was an excellent idea!

• C’est si bon! [sɛ si bɔ̃] – It’s so good! C’est si bon meaning is clear and conveys positive feelings towards something.

Tu as goûté le gâteau? C’est si bon! [ty a ɡute lə ɡato? sɛ si bɔ̃] – Did you taste the cake? It’s so good!

• Trop bien! [tʁo bjɛ̃] – So good! Used to express that something is very good or pleasing.

On a gagné le match, trop bien! [ɔ̃n‿a ɡaɲe lə matʃ, tʁo bjɛ̃] – We won the game, so good!

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Conclusion

Saying oui in French is just the start. The many ways to agree make your conversations richer and more natural. From casual chats with friends to formal dialogues, you’ve now got the right words. Using these phrases and paying attention to French pronunciation helps you fit in better and connect more genuinely with people around you.