que nenni

On croyait le dossier classé ? Que nenni : l'enquête continue.
Did we think the case was closed? Not at all: the investigation continues.
La route devait être facile. Que nenni, il a fallu grimper deux heures.
The route was supposed to be easy. Far from it: we had to climb for two hours.
« Tu vas accepter ? » « Que nenni ! »
“Are you going to accept?” “Certainly not!”
Le gâteau paraissait léger ? Que nenni ! Une part m'a suffi.
Did the cake look light? Hardly! One slice was enough for me.
Il semblait prêt à céder, mais que nenni : il a maintenu son refus.
He seemed ready to give in, but not a bit of it: he kept refusing.

Similar words

certainement pas

tu parles

On croyait le dossier classé ? Que nenni : l'enquête continue.
Did we think the case was closed? Not at all: the investigation continues.
« Tu vas accepter ? » « Que nenni ! »
“Are you going to accept?” “Certainly not!”
La route devait être facile. Que nenni, il a fallu grimper deux heures.
The route was supposed to be easy. Far from it: we had to climb for two hours.
Il semblait prêt à céder, mais que nenni : il a maintenu son refus.
He seemed ready to give in, but not a bit of it: he kept refusing.
Le gâteau paraissait léger ? Que nenni ! Une part m'a suffi.
Did the cake look light? Hardly! One slice was enough for me.

certainement pas

tu parles

The older word nenni meant “no”, from Old French nen and il. With que, the old negative survives as a playful modern response.

What does que nenni mean?

An emphatic “certainly not” or “not at all”.

Is que nenni still used?

Yes, often playfully or with deliberate old-fashioned flavour.

Is it a serious refusal?

It can be, but its tone is commonly humorous.

Can it answer a question alone?

Yes: “Tu acceptes ?” “Que nenni !”

Is bare nenni as common?

No, bare nenni is largely old-fashioned.

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