rien

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/ʁjɛ̃/

pronoun

nothing

not anything (used mainly in negative contexts)

J'ai rien fait, je t'assure.

I didn't do anything, I assure you.

Synonyms:rien du tout, que dalle, pas grand-chose

nounmasculine

a trifle; something insignificant

Il s'énerve pour un rien.

He gets upset over nothing (a trivial thing).

Synonyms:broutille, bagatelle, chose sans importance

Notes

GENERAL INFO

Rien means "nothing" or "anything" when used in negative contexts. It is an indefinite pronoun, always singular and masculine.

USAGE

Rien almost always appears with "ne" in a negative construction: "Je ne vois rien" (I see nothing / I don't see anything). It can stand alone in informal replies: "Qu'est-ce que tu fais?" "Rien." (What are you doing? Nothing.)

TRAPS

Remember the "ne...rien" structure is a standard negation in French, not a double negative like in English. Do not confuse it with "personne" (nobody/anyone).