French Phrase
Pas de dessert pour moi, merci.
Meaning
Literally, 'No dessert for me, thank you.' It is a polite way to decline the dessert course when dining out or at a gathering. The phrase combines a negative construction with a courteous thank‑you, showing good manners while making your preference clear.
When to use
Use this sentence in restaurants, cafés, or at a friend's home when you have already eaten enough, are watching your diet, or simply don’t want sweets. It works both in formal settings (e.g., a business lunch) and informal gatherings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pasdedessertpourmoi,merci.
Pas de
The negative expression 'pas de' means 'no' or 'not any' and is used before a noun to negate it.
dessert
A masculine noun meaning 'dessert' (sweet course after a meal).
pour moi
Literally 'for me', used here to indicate the speaker is the one refusing.
merci
A polite way to say 'thank you' after making a request or statement.
🗨In Conversation
Pas de dessert pour moi, merci.
No dessert for me, thank you.
Très bien, je vous apporte le café.
Very well, I’ll bring you coffee.
✕Common Mistakes
Pas de desserts pour moi, merci.
Dessert is singular in this context; using the plural ‘desserts’ sounds unnatural.
Merci, pas de dessert.
The usual order is ‘Pas de dessert, merci.’ Placing ‘merci’ first can sound abrupt.
Pas de dessert pour moi merci
Missing the comma makes the sentence less clear; punctuation helps separate the refusal from the polite ‘merci.’
↔Alternatives
Je ne veux pas de dessert, merci.
I don’t want dessert, thank you.
Je préfère ne pas prendre de dessert, merci.
I’d rather not have dessert, thank you.
Pas de dessert, s’il vous plaît.
No dessert, please.
Cultural Tip
In French dining culture, it’s considered courteous to explicitly state your preferences rather than simply ignoring the dessert offering. Adding ‘merci’ softens the refusal and shows appreciation for the host’s hospitality. In more formal meals, you might also say ‘Je vous remercie, mais je ne prendrai pas de dessert.’