Ça ne fait rien = It doesn't matter (French Idiomatic Expressions)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2023-09-20

18 questions

In French, to express "it doesn't matter", you use a specific expression with the verb faire.

How to use the verb faire to express "it doesn't matter" in French

Look at these examples:

- Désolé, j'ai cassé ton stylo.
- Oh, ça ne fait rien.

- Sorry, I broke your pen.
- Oh, it doesn't matter / it's no big deal / it's ok.

- Mince, j'ai oublié les oeufs!
- Ça ne fait rien, on va préparer autre chose.

- Damn, I forgot the eggs!
- It's no big deal, we're going to make something else.

- Je ne vais pas pouvoir venir.
- Ça ne fait rien!

- I'm not going to be able to come.
- It's not a problem!

To say that It doesn't matter / It's no big deal / It's not a problem in French, you use the expression Ça ne fait rien (literally: "it does nothing").

Though less commonly used, you can also use the more elegant Cela ne fait rien.

J'ai oublié de te rapporter tes lunettes !
- Cela ne fait rien, tu me les rendras plus tard.

I forgot to bring you your glasses!
- That's ok, you'll give them back to me later.

The ne is often dropped with ça in casual speech (cela is always used in elegant speech, where you never drop the ne):
-> Ça fait rien.

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Idiotismes avec faire

Examples and resources