je vous en prie
/ʒə vu ɑ̃ pʁi/“— Merci pour votre aide ! — Je vous en prie !”
— Thank you for your help! — You're welcome!
A polite response to 'thank you,' meaning 'you're welcome' or 'don't mention it.'
— Merci pour le cadeau. — Je vous en prie, c'était un plaisir.
— Thank you for the gift. — You're welcome, it was my pleasure.
Used in formal or polite contexts, especially with strangers or in professional settings.
Can also mean 'go ahead' or 'please' when inviting someone to do something.
Je vous en prie, asseyez-vous.
Please, have a seat.
Often used when offering something or inviting someone to proceed.
Synonyms
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal
Use 'je vous en prie' in formal settings or with strangers. For friends, 'de rien' or 'avec plaisir' is more casual.
📖Word Origin
Derived from 'je' (I), 'vous' (you formal), 'en' (of it), and 'prie' (pray), literally meaning 'I pray you of it.'
📝Usage Notes
More formal than 'de rien' and often used in professional or polite contexts. Can also mean 'go ahead' when offering something.