Dictionary / You're welcome
How to Say "You're welcome" in French
De rien
/də ʁjɛ̃/
Literally: Of nothing
De
of
rien
nothing
Formal and plural
Formal or pluralJe vous en prie
De rien is the everyday answer and works almost everywhere. Je vous en prie is the formal version and is what you will hear from shop staff and in offices. Avec plaisir is warmer, and pas de quoi is casual, closer to no worries.
Correct
De rien
What people say wrong
Bienvenue
welcome (on arrival); only means you're welcome in Quebec
The mistake to avoid. Bienvenue means welcome in the arrival sense, as in welcome to France, welcome to my home. In France it is not the reply to merci, so answering bienvenue when someone thanks you produces a small puzzled pause. The exception is Quebec, where bienvenue as you're welcome is completely standard, which is why learners run into contradictory advice about it. If you are aiming at France, use de rien.
In context
— Merci beaucoup ! — De rien.
"Thanks so much!" "You're welcome."
Je vous en prie, ce n'était rien.
You're welcome, it was nothing.
Bienvenue chez nous !
Welcome to our home!