Learning French opens up exciting ways to express yourself. One helpful word to learn is “neither.” In conversations, this word helps to express agreement in a negative sense or to exclude two things. Knowing how to use it in French will make your speech smoother and more precise.
This guide will teach you how to say “neither” in French. You’ll also explore different ways to use it, learn responses, and practice with fun exercises. By the end, you’ll feel ready to use this word confidently in everyday situations.
Ways to Say “Neither” in French
In French, “neither” is a common word used to express the exclusion of options or agreement with a negative statement. Mastering its usage will help you sound more natural when having conversations. Below are various ways to say “neither” in French, along with their meanings and examples.
1. Ni
Pronunciation: [nee]
Meaning: Neither / Nor
In a Sentence:
- Je n’aime ni le thé ni le café. (I like neither tea nor coffee.)
- Il ne veut ni sortir ni rester à la maison. (He doesn’t want to go out or stay home.)
2. Ni l’un ni l’autre
Pronunciation: [nee luhn nee loh-truh]
Meaning: Neither one nor the other
In a Sentence:
- Je ne choisis ni l’un ni l’autre. (I choose neither one nor the other.)
- Ni l’un ni l’autre n’est correct. (Neither one nor the other is correct.)
3. Aucun des deux
Pronunciation: [oh-kuhn day duh]
Meaning: None of the two
In a Sentence:
- Aucun des deux ne me plaît. (Neither of the two pleases me.)
- Aucun des deux n’est disponible. (Neither of the two is available.)
4. Pas non plus
Pronunciation: [pah nohn ploo]
Meaning: Not either
In a Sentence:
- Je ne veux pas venir, et lui non plus. (I don’t want to come, and neither does he.)
- Elle ne chante pas bien, moi non plus. (She doesn’t sing well, and neither do I.)
5. Rien de tout cela
Pronunciation: [ree-ehn duh too suh-lah]
Meaning: None of that
In a Sentence:
- Je ne veux rien de tout cela. (I want none of that.)
- Rien de tout cela ne semble correct. (None of that seems right.)
6. Ni ceci ni cela
Pronunciation: [nee suh-see nee suh-lah]
Meaning: Neither this nor that
In a Sentence:
- Il n’a ni ceci ni cela. (He has neither this nor that.)
- Ni ceci ni cela ne fonctionne. (Neither this nor that works.)
7. Ni toi ni moi
Pronunciation: [nee twah nee mwah]
Meaning: Neither you nor me
In a Sentence:
- Ni toi ni moi ne sommes responsables. (Neither you nor I are responsible.)
- Ce cadeau n’est pour ni toi ni moi. (This gift is for neither you nor me.)
8. Aucunement
Pronunciation: [ah-kuhn-mahn]
Meaning: Not at all / In no way
In a Sentence:
- Cela ne m’intéresse aucunement. (That doesn’t interest me at all.)
- Aucunement, je ne suis pas d’accord. (Not at all, I do not agree.)
9. Ni personne
Pronunciation: [nee pair-sohn]
Meaning: Nor anyone
In a Sentence:
- Il n’y a ni lui ni personne d’autre. (There is neither him nor anyone else.)
- Ni personne n’a répondu à ma question. (Nor has anyone answered my question.)
10. Ni rien
Pronunciation: [nee ree-ehn]
Meaning: Nor anything
In a Sentence:
- Je ne vois ni rien ni personne. (I see neither anything nor anyone.)
- Ni rien n’a été ajouté au dossier. (Nor anything has been added to the file.)
11. Pas un seul
Pronunciation: [pah uhn suhl]
Meaning: Not a single one
In a Sentence:
- Pas un seul de mes amis n’est venu. (Not a single one of my friends came.)
- Il n’y a pas un seul livre sur l’étagère. (There’s not a single book on the shelf.)
12. Ni même
Pronunciation: [nee mehm]
Meaning: Not even
In a Sentence:
- Ni même lui n’a compris la question. (Not even he understood the question.)
- On n’a vu ni même une ombre. (We didn’t see even a shadow.)
13. Aucun
Pronunciation: [oh-kuhn]
Meaning: None
In a Sentence:
- Aucun de ces choix ne convient. (None of these options works.)
- Aucun ne veut partir. (None wants to leave.)
14. Pas ni
Pronunciation: [pah nee]
Meaning: Not nor
In a Sentence:
- Il ne veut pas, ni moi. (He doesn’t want to, nor do I.)
- Pas ni l’un ni l’autre n’a répondu. (Neither of the two replied.)
15. Ni jamais
Pronunciation: [nee zhah-meh]
Meaning: Nor ever
In a Sentence:
- Il ne reviendra ni jamais. (He will never come back.)
- Je n’ai vu ni jamais un tel spectacle. (I have never seen such a show.)
16. Ni d’un côté ni de l’autre
Pronunciation: [nee duh koh-tay nee duh loh-truh]
Meaning: Neither on one side nor the other
In a Sentence:
- Ni d’un côté ni de l’autre n’a raison. (Neither side is right.)
- La réponse ne se trouve ni d’un côté ni de l’autre. (The answer is found on neither side.)
17. Pas de tout
Pronunciation: [pah duh too]
Meaning: Not at all
In a Sentence:
- Cela ne m’intéresse pas de tout. (I am not interested at all.)
- Il n’a pas de tout accepté l’offre. (He didn’t accept the offer at all.)
18. Ni là ni ailleurs
Pronunciation: [nee lah nee eye-yeur]
Meaning: Neither here nor elsewhere
In a Sentence:
- Le document n’est ni là ni ailleurs. (The document is neither here nor elsewhere.)
- Il ne voulait ni là ni ailleurs pour vivre. (He wanted neither here nor anywhere else to live.)
19. Ni rien ni personne
Pronunciation: [nee ree-ehn nee pair-sohn]
Meaning: Neither anything nor anyone
In a Sentence:
- Ni rien ni personne ne peut m’arrêter. (Neither anything nor anyone can stop me.)
- Ils n’ont trouvé ni rien ni personne pour les aider. (They found neither anything nor anyone to help them.)
20. Ni jamais rien
Pronunciation: [nee zhah-meh ree-ehn]
Meaning: Never anything
In a Sentence:
- Il ne dit ni jamais rien à ce sujet. (He never says anything about it.)
- Je ne pardonnerai ni jamais rien à cet égard. (I will never forgive anything about it.)
21. Ni aujourd’hui ni demain
Pronunciation: [nee oh-zhoor-dwee nee duh-mahn]
Meaning: Neither today nor tomorrow
In a Sentence:
- Je ne suis libre ni aujourd’hui ni demain. (I’m free neither today nor tomorrow.)
- Il ne viendra ni aujourd’hui ni demain. (He will come neither today nor tomorrow.)
22. Ni plus ni moins
Pronunciation: [nee ploo nee mwah]
Meaning: Neither more nor less
In a Sentence:
- C’est ni plus ni moins que ce que j’attendais. (It’s neither more nor less than what I expected.)
- Ni plus ni moins ne peut être ajouté. (Neither more nor less can be added.)
23. Pas même un mot
Pronunciation: [pah mehm uhn moh]
Meaning: Not even a word
In a Sentence:
- Il n’a dit pas même un mot. (He didn’t say even a word.)
- Elle ne m’a répondu pas même un mot. (She didn’t even reply with a word.)
24. Ni toi ni personne
Pronunciation: [nee twah nee pair-sohn]
Meaning: Neither you nor anyone
In a Sentence:
- Ni toi ni personne ne sait la vérité. (Neither you nor anyone knows the truth.)
- Cela ne concerne ni toi ni personne. (This concerns neither you nor anyone.)
25. Ni avant ni après
Pronunciation: [nee ah-vahn nee ah-pray]
Meaning: Neither before nor after
In a Sentence:
- Il n’a répondu ni avant ni après l’examen. (He answered neither before nor after the exam.)
- Je ne veux ni avant ni après ce moment. (I want neither before nor after this moment.)
Other Ways to Say “Neither” in French
Here are more ways to say “neither” in French with their meanings and examples. These will help expand your vocabulary and improve your conversational skills.
| Other Ways to Say | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentences |
| Ni moi non plus | [nee mwah nohn ploo] | Neither do I | – Je n’aime pas les épinards, ni moi non plus. (I don’t like spinach, neither do I.) |
| Pas un instant | [pah uhn eh-stahn] | Not for a moment | – Je n’y ai cru pas un instant. (I didn’t believe it for a moment.) |
| Ni ici ni là-bas | [nee ee-see nee lah-bah] | Neither here nor there | – La solution n’est ni ici ni là-bas. (The solution is neither here nor there.) |
| Aucunement possible | [ah-kuhn-mahn poh-see-bluh] | Not at all possible | – Cela n’est aucunement possible à réaliser. (That is not at all possible to do.) |
| Ni un ni autre | [nee uhn nee oh-truh] | Neither one nor the other | – Ni un ni autre ne me satisfait. (Neither one nor the other satisfies me.) |
| Aucun résultat | [ah-kuhn ray-zoo-tah] | No result at all | – Il n’y a aucun résultat après tout ce travail. (There’s no result after all this work.) |
| Ni une fois | [nee oon fwah] | Not even once | – Je n’ai essayé ni une fois. (I didn’t try even once.) |
| Ni à gauche ni à droite | [nee ah gohsh nee ah drwaht] | Neither to the left nor to the right | – Il n’est allé ni à gauche ni à droite. (He went neither to the left nor to the right.) |
| Ni eux ni nous | [nee uh nee noo] | Neither them nor us | – Cela ne concerne ni eux ni nous. (This concerns neither them nor us.) |
| Ni avant ni pendant | [nee ah-vahn nee pahn-dahn] | Neither before nor during | – Il n’a mangé ni avant ni pendant la fête. (He ate neither before nor during the party.) |
Responses to “Neither” in French
When someone uses “neither” in French, knowing how to respond politely or agreeably is helpful. These responses show understanding, agreement, or acknowledgment in a natural way. Below are some common responses you can use in different situations.
1. Moi non plus
Pronunciation: [mwah nohn ploo]
Meaning: Me neither
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je n’aime pas le froid. (I don’t like the cold.)
Person 2: Moi non plus. (Me neither.)
2. Pas du tout
Pronunciation: [pah doo too]
Meaning: Not at all
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Tu as aimé le film ? (Did you like the movie?)
Person 2: Pas du tout. (Not at all.)
3. Ni moi
Pronunciation: [nee mwah]
Meaning: Neither do I
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je ne comprends pas cette règle. (I don’t understand this rule.)
Person 2: Ni moi. (Neither do I.)
4. Moi aussi pas
Pronunciation: [mwah oh-see pah]
Meaning: Me also not
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je ne vais pas y aller. (I’m not going to go.)
Person 2: Moi aussi pas. (Me neither.)
5. Aucun problème
Pronunciation: [oh-kuhn proh-blehm]
Meaning: No problem
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ni toi ni moi ne pouvons y aller. (Neither you nor I can go.)
Person 2: Aucun problème. (No problem.)
6. Ça ne fait rien
Pronunciation: [sah nuh feh ree-ehn]
Meaning: It doesn’t matter
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il n’y a ni pain ni beurre. (There’s neither bread nor butter.)
Person 2: Ça ne fait rien. (It doesn’t matter.)
7. D’accord
Pronunciation: [dah-kohr]
Meaning: Okay / Agreed
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ni aujourd’hui ni demain ne fonctionnent. (Neither today nor tomorrow works.)
Person 2: D’accord. (Okay.)
8. Je comprends
Pronunciation: [juh kohm-prahn]
Meaning: I understand
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Il ne veut ni étudier ni travailler. (He wants to neither study nor work.)
Person 2: Je comprends. (I understand.)
9. Moi pareil
Pronunciation: [mwah pah-ray]
Meaning: Same for me
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Je ne prends ni café ni thé. (I take neither coffee nor tea.)
Person 2: Moi pareil. (Same for me.)
10. C’est juste
Pronunciation: [say zhust]
Meaning: That’s fair
In a Sentence:
- Person 1: Ni lui ni elle ne sont en tort. (Neither he nor she is at fault.)
Person 2: C’est juste. (That’s fair.)
Exercise to Practice “Neither” in French
Here are 12 fill-in-the-blank exercises to help you practice using “neither” in French. Each sentence uses real-life situations, making the practice more relatable.
Fill-in-the-Blanks
- Je n’aime pas le chocolat, et _______ mon frère.
- Ni le chat _______ le chien ne sont dans la maison.
- Nous ne voulons _______ café _______ thé pour le petit-déjeuner.
- Il n’a _______ lu _______ regardé la télévision ce soir.
- Je ne peux venir _______ aujourd’hui _______ demain.
- Elle n’a apporté _______ stylo _______ cahier à l’école.
- Il ne va _______ en vacances cet été _______ en hiver.
- Je ne mange _______ poisson _______ viande.
- Ni toi _______ moi ne savons la réponse à cette question.
- Il ne pense _______ à toi _______ à son travail.
- Nous ne voyons _______ Pierre _______ Marie à la fête.
- Elle n’a invité _______ sa famille _______ ses amis.
Answers
- Je n’aime pas le chocolat, et ni mon frère. (I don’t like chocolate, and neither does my brother.)
- Ni le chat ni le chien ne sont dans la maison. (Neither the cat nor the dog is in the house.)
- Nous ne voulons ni café ni thé pour le petit-déjeuner. (We want neither coffee nor tea for breakfast.)
- Il n’a ni lu ni regardé la télévision ce soir. (He has neither read nor watched television tonight.)
- Je ne peux venir ni aujourd’hui ni demain. (I can come neither today nor tomorrow.)
- Elle n’a apporté ni stylo ni cahier à l’école. (She didn’t bring a pen or a notebook to school.)
- Il ne va ni en vacances cet été ni en hiver. (He is going neither on vacation this summer nor this winter.)
- Je ne mange ni poisson ni viande. (I eat neither fish nor meat.)
- Ni toi ni moi ne savons la réponse à cette question. (Neither you nor I know the answer to this question.)
- Il ne pense ni à toi ni à son travail. (He thinks of neither you nor his work.)
- Nous ne voyons ni Pierre ni Marie à la fête. (We see neither Pierre nor Marie at the party.)
- Elle n’a invité ni sa famille ni ses amis. (She invited neither her family nor her friends.)
Conclusion
Learning how to use and respond to “neither” in French is a useful step in improving your language skills. It helps you express negative agreements, exclusions, or choices with clarity. By practicing these expressions, you’ll find it easier to participate in conversations and understand native speakers.
Remember, consistent practice is key to mastering these phrases. Use the examples provided to guide your learning and try using them in real-life scenarios whenever possible. With time, expressing “neither” in French will become a natural part of your communication.