French Phrase
Pas du tout, vas‑y !
Meaning
Literally “Not at all, go ahead!” It is a friendly way to tell someone that they haven’t caused any trouble and that they should feel free to continue what they were about to do.
When to use
Use this phrase after someone apologizes for a minor inconvenience, when you want to reassure them that they haven’t bothered you, or when you give permission to proceed in a casual setting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pasdutout,vas-y!
Pas du tout
A negative response meaning “not at all”. It’s used to downplay a perceived inconvenience or to politely reject a negative assumption.
vas‑y
Imperative of the verb *aller* (to go) with the pronoun *y*. It translates to “go ahead” or “go on”. It is informal; the formal equivalent is *allez‑y*.
🗨In Conversation
Excusez‑moi de vous déranger, j’ai une petite question.
Sorry to bother you, I have a quick question.
Pas du tout, vas‑y !
Not at all, go ahead!
✕Common Mistakes
Pas du tout, oui.
‘Pas du tout’ is a negative expression; it cannot be followed by an affirmative like ‘oui’.
Pas du tout, vas‑y, Monsieur.
Use *allez‑y* when speaking to someone you’d address with *vous*.
Pas du tout, désolé, vas‑y.
The phrase already conveys reassurance; adding another apology sounds redundant.
↔Alternatives
Pas de problème, vas‑y !
No problem, go ahead!
Aucun souci, vas‑y !
No worries, go ahead!
Pas d’inquiétude, vas‑y !
Don’t worry, go ahead!
Cultural Tip
In French, *pas du tout* is a polite way to dismiss any feeling of inconvenience. It’s often paired with an informal imperative like *vas‑y* among friends, family, or colleagues. In a formal context (e.g., with a stranger or a superior) you would replace *vas‑y* with *allez‑y* and might say *Pas de problème, allez‑y* instead.