French Phrase
Bien sûr. Vas-y.
Meaning
This phrase combines 'bien sûr', meaning 'of course' or 'certainly', with 'vas-y', which literally means 'go there' but is used idiomatically as 'go ahead'. Together, they express enthusiastic permission or encouragement for someone to proceed with an action. It is a very common and friendly way to give the green light.
When to use
Use this when someone asks for permission to do something, like asking a question or taking the last piece of cake. It is also suitable when encouraging a friend to start a task or take their turn in a game.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bien sûr.Vas-y
Bien sûr
An adverbial phrase meaning 'of course', where 'sûr' means 'sure' or 'certain'.
Vas-y
The imperative form of 'aller' (to go) combined with the pronoun 'y' (there). The 's' is added to 'va' for phonetic reasons before the vowel sound.
🗨In Conversation
Est-ce que je peux te poser une question ?
Can I ask you a question?
Bien sûr. Vas-y.
Of course. Go ahead.
✕Common Mistakes
Bien sûr. Va-y.
In the imperative form before 'y', the 's' is added back to 'va' for easier pronunciation (vas-y).
Bien sûr. Va y.
Don't forget the hyphen between the verb and the pronoun in the imperative form.
↔Alternatives
Je t'en prie.
Please, go ahead (informal).
Certainement.
Certainly.
Fais donc.
Go right ahead.
Cultural Tip
In France, 'vas-y' is informal and used among friends or family. If you are in a formal setting or speaking to someone you don't know well, you should use the plural/formal 'Allez-y' instead. 'Bien sûr' remains versatile and can be used in almost any social context to show agreement.