Phrasebook
C’est gentil or c’est aimable: thank someone and answer an offer
Say “That’s kind of you” in French, accept or decline an offer, and choose de ta part or de votre part. Includes useful phrases and a short quiz.
- A2
- 8 phrases
- 3 situations
- Learn this in the A2 notebook →
In short
C’est gentil and C’est aimable both mean “That’s kind of you” when someone helps or offers something. Gentil is everyday wording; aimable, especially in C’est très aimable de votre part, sounds more formal. Add your answer to the offer: oui, merci or merci, mais….
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
| French | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| C’est gentil, merci. | That’s kind, thank you. | An everyday acknowledgement. |
| C’est très aimable de votre part. | That’s very kind of you. | A more formal acknowledgement. |
| C’est gentil de m’aider. | It’s kind of you to help me. | Names the helpful action. |
| C’est gentil de m’avoir attendu. | It was kind of you to wait for me. | Thanks someone for an earlier action. |
How do you answer an offer politely in French?
Accept some help
Decline an invitation warmly
Thank someone you call vous
C’est gentil de ta part or de votre part?
C’est aimable de ta part de me prévenir.
It’s kind of you to let me know.
C’est gentil de votre part de me prévenir.
It’s kind of you to let me know.
Both combinations work. De ta part fits one person you call tu. De votre part fits one person you call vous, or several people. Gentil works with polite address too; it is a warm everyday option.
Is it c’est gentil or c’est gentille?
- C’est gentille de ta part.C’est gentil de ta part.
After c’est, gentil describes the gesture here. Keep the masculine singular form.
Léa est gentille. C’est gentil de sa part de nous aider.
Léa is kind. It’s kind of her to help us.
In Léa est gentille, the adjective describes Léa and agrees with her. In C’est gentil, it describes what she does. Read the rest of the reply too: C’est gentil, mais je ne peux pas venir appreciates the invitation and declines it.