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Ouais or oui? Nine questions on saying yes in French

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Practise oui and familiar ouais in invitations, confirmations and qualified replies. Nine questions help you read the whole answer and choose a clear response.

In short

Oui is the ordinary “yes”; ouais is familiar, like “yeah”. Both can give a sincere, positive answer. Read the rest of the reply to see whether the speaker is accepting a plan, confirming a fact or adding a condition.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two friends greet each other beside a café courtyard.
A friendly invitation can receive ouais, avec plaisir. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: three replies to the same invitation
ReplyEnglishWhat you learn
Oui, avec plaisir !Yes, I’d love to!The invitation is accepted warmly.
Ouais, avec plaisir !Yeah, I’d love to!The same acceptance, in familiar language.
Oui, mais après dix-huit heures.Yes, but after six.The acceptance comes with a time condition.

You can say oui to a friend. Use ouais when you want a familiar tone; choose oui for a neutral answer to someone you are meeting. In the questions below, follow the stated situation and read every word after the affirmative.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    A friend asks if you are free. Choose the familiar affirmative.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Ouais, je suis libre.. Ouais is the familiar affirmative; oui would give a neutral yes.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    You want a neutral reply to a receptionist.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Oui, bien sûr.. Oui gives the requested neutral confirmation; ouais is familiar.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    What does the speaker agree to?Oui, mais je peux venir seulement après dix-huit heures.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Coming after six.. The clause after mais limits the acceptance to after six.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    What is confirmed here?Ouais, je comprends, mais je ne peux pas venir demain.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The speaker understands the idea.. Je comprends confirms understanding; the next clause rules out coming tomorrow.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Choose the warm acceptance of an invitation.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Oui, avec plaisir !. Avec plaisir clearly accepts the invitation with enthusiasm.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Which reply confirms receipt of the message?Vous avez reçu mon message ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Oui, je l’ai bien reçu.. Je l’ai bien reçu confirms that the message has arrived.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    A friend says Ouais, super idée ! What does the full reply show?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Enthusiasm.. Super idée ! supplies an enthusiastic judgement in this reply.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Which statement about replying to a friend is correct?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Both work; the familiar form changes the tone.. Oui works in ordinary conversation too; ouais changes the register.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Which reply answers the question and asks for one missing detail?Tu veux venir avec nous ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Oui, volontiers. À quelle heure ?. The last reply accepts, then asks what time the event starts.

What is the difference between ouais and oui?

Oui, je viens, mais je dois partir à vingt heures.

Yes, I’m coming, but I have to leave at eight.

The affirmative gives the answer; mais je dois partir à vingt heures gives the practical limit. Keep both parts when you pass the message on. That makes your French reply useful as well as natural.

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