none of your business

The English expressions “none of your business” and “none of my business” can be translated into French in several ways depending on the level of formality and the tone. French offers both direct, informal equivalents and more polite or neutral alternatives.

None of your business

The most common informal way to say “none of your business” is ce ne sont pas tes affaires when speaking to someone you address as “tu,” or ce ne sont pas vos affaires when speaking formally or to more than one person.

Examples:

  • Ça ne te regarde pas. (literally, it doesn’t look at you)
    That is none of your business.
  • Ce ne sont pas tes affaires. (literally, these are not your affairs)
    That is none of your business.
  • Ce ne sont pas vos affaires. (literally, these are not your affairs)
    That is none of your business.

A slightly stronger and more dismissive phrase is occupe-toi de tes affaires or occupez-vous de vos affaires.

Examples:

  • Oublie ça et occupe-toi de tes affaires. (literally, forget it and occupy yourself with your affairs)
    Forget about it and mind your own business.
  • Occupez-vous de vos affaires, s’il vous plaît. (literally, occupy yourself with your affairs, please)
    Mind your own business, please.

In a very informal or blunt register, especially among young people, you may also hear mêle-toi de tes affaires or mêle-toi de tes oignons. The latter is colloquial and playful.

Examples:

  • Mêle-toi de tes affaires. (literally, meddle in your affairs)
    Mind your own business.
  • Mêle-toi de tes oignons. (literally, meddle in your onions)
    Mind your own business.

This “oignons” expression also appears in shorter forms like c’est pas tes oignons or simply pas tes oignons. These are familiar and conversational ways to say “none of your business.” Literally “it’s not your onions” or “not your onions.”

Examples:

  • Pourquoi tu veux savoir ? C’est pas tes oignons.
    Why do you want to know? That is none of your business.
  • Tu lui as dit quoi ? Pas tes oignons.
    What did you say to him? None of your business.

For formal or polite contexts, a less abrupt option is cela ne vous concerne pas. Literally, it doesn’t concern you.

Example:

  • Je suis désolé, mais cela ne vous concerne pas.
    I am sorry, but that is none of your business.

None of my business

To say “none of my business” in French, the most common expression is ce ne sont pas mes affaires.

Examples:

  • Ce ne sont pas mes affaires, je préfère ne pas intervenir.
    That is none of my business, I prefer not to get involved.
  • Tu peux faire ce que tu veux, ce n’est pas mes affaires.
    You can do what you want, it is none of my business.

Another natural option is ça ne me regarde pas. Literally, it doesn’t look at me.

Examples:

  • Ce que tu fais de ton argent, ça ne me regarde pas.
    What you do with your money is none of my business.
  • Ça ne me regarde pas, donc je ne dirai rien.
    That is none of my business, so I will not say anything.

In more formal or neutral contexts, you may hear cela ne me concerne pas.

Examples:

  • Je ne donnerai pas mon avis, cela ne me concerne pas.
    I will not give my opinion, that is none of my business.
  • C’est une décision interne, cela ne me concerne pas.
    It is an internal decision, that is none of my business.

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • à peu près

    The French expression “à peu près” is a versatile phrase that translates to “approximately,” “more or less,” or “roughly” in English. It is used to indicate an approximation, an estimation, or a lack of precision in statements. The phrase can be applied in various contexts, from time and quantity to descriptions and opinions. One common…

  • habituer

    The French verb “habituer” means “to accustom” or “to get used to.” Its reflexive or pronominal form, “s’habituer,” means “to get used to” something or someone. “habituer” (regular form) The regular form “habituer” is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object. It is used when one person or thing causes another to…

  • Easter

    Easter, or Pâques in French, is both a major religious holiday and a cultural event in France. For learners of French, exploring Easter traditions is an opportunity not only to discover important aspects of French life but also to expand vocabulary and deepen cultural understanding. Religious Observance – Les célébrations religieuses France has strong Catholic…

  • Thanks

    French has a small set of core words and patterns to give thanks. The choice depends on formality, strength, and grammar. Some forms are set phrases. Others change with the object or person. Merci merci is the basic word for “thanks.” It does not change form. Use it on its own or with additions. With…

  • verbs of perception

    French often uses different verbs of perception, depending on whether it’s passive or active, or whether it’s literal or figurative. Discover some of the most commonly confused pairs: voir vs regarder, écouter vs entendre, sentir vs se sentir, and sentir vs avoir bon goût. Voir vs Regarder The verbs “voir” and “regarder” both relate to…

  • saint, sain, sein, ceins

    French has many homonyms—words that sound the same, but have different meanings or spellings. Among these, saint, sain, sein and occasionally ceins often confuse learners. Let’s look at their meanings and uses, while focusing only on forms that are true homonyms. 1. Saint (masculine noun or adjective) Meaning: Refers to a saint (a holy person…