De rien.

You’re welcome.

Breakdown of De rien.

• de rien: you’re welcome

Questions & Answers about De rien.

What does de rien literally mean?

Literally, de rien means something like of nothing or for nothing.

The idea is: it was nothing, don’t mention it, or it was no trouble. That is why it is used as a response to merci.

So even though the natural English translation is usually you’re welcome, the French expression is built differently.

When do I use de rien?

You use de rien after someone thanks you.

For example:

• Merci !
• De rien.

It works in many everyday situations:

• someone thanks you for holding a door
• someone thanks you for giving directions
• someone thanks you for a small favor

It is one of the most common and natural ways to reply to merci.

Is de rien formal or informal?