What does 'pas du tout' mean?

Pas du tout means 'not at all'. It's the strong form of 'no': where pas is simply 'not', pas du tout closes the door completely. Tu es fâché ? — Pas du tout. ('Are you angry? — Not at all.')

How do you pronounce 'pas du tout'?

It's pronounced roughly 'pah dew too'. The -s of pas is silent, the u in du is the tight French 'ew' sound, and the final -t of tout is silent. Three short syllables, said flatly for a firm 'not at all'.

How do you use 'pas du tout' in a sentence?

It slots onto a normal negative to intensify it: Ça ne me dérange pas du tout ('It doesn't bother me at all'). Or it stands alone as a full answer: 'Ça t'ennuie ? — Pas du tout !' ('Does it annoy you? — Not at all!').

Can 'pas du tout' mean 'you're welcome'?

Yes. In reply to merci, 'pas du tout' works like the English 'not at all' — a polite 'it was nothing'. It's a touch more formal than de rien; both are fine.

Is 'pas du tout' polite or rude?

It's perfectly polite and works in any setting, formal or casual — it's the tone that decides. Said gently it's a warm 'not at all'; said sharply it becomes an emphatic, almost offended denial.

Pas du tout: How to Say "Not at All" in French

Sometimes a simple non isn't enough — you want to close the door completely. That's what pas du tout is for: it's the French "not at all". My new video shows it in a string of real film and TV clips so you can hear the tone; this short guide breaks down what it means, how to say it, and the three ways French people actually use it.

🎬 'Pas du tout' in real movie clips — hear how the tone changes everything.

What "pas du tout" means

Pas du tout means not at all. Think of it as pas("not") turned all the way up: it doesn't just deny, it denies completely. Pronounce it pah dew too — the -s of pas and the -t of tout are both silent.

The 3 ways French people use it

To strengthen a negative. Drop it onto a normal ne… pas sentence: Ça ne me dérange pas du tout — "It doesn't bother me at all." Ce n'est pas du tout mon genre— "It's really not my type."
As a one-word answer. On its own it's a firm reply: Tu es fâché ? — Pas du tout !("Are you angry? — Not at all!"). This is the use you'll reach for most.
As a polite "you're welcome". After merci, pas du tout works like the English "not at all" — a modest "it was nothing". Slightly more formal than de rien.

A word on tone

Pas du tout is always polite — it fits a job interview and a dinner with friends alike. What changes is the delivery: said softly it's a warm, reassuring "not at all"; said sharply, with the stress on tout, it becomes an emphatic, almost offended denial. Same words, opposite feeling.

Say it back

Play the video again and answer each clip out loud with pas du tout — once warmly, once firmly — so both tones are ready when you need them. Want more everyday expressions like this? See 5 casual French reactions and j'en peux plus. And if you want to practise reacting in real French conversations, I teach one-to-one online — you can book a free 30-minute trial lesson or see how I work as a French tutor in Bangkok & online.