French Phrase
C'était pas mal, merci !
Meaning
Literally “It was not bad, thank you!” – a polite, modest way to say you liked something, but without sounding overly enthusiastic.
When to use
Use after tasting a dish, watching a performance, receiving a service, or any situation where you want to acknowledge something was decent and thank the host.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'étaitpasmal,merci!
C'était
Contraction of "ce" + "était", the imparfait of "être" meaning "it was".
pas mal
An idiomatic expression meaning "not bad"; used to give modest praise.
merci
A standalone thank‑you; can be placed after a comment to show appreciation.
🗨In Conversation
Comment as-tu trouvé le dîner ?
How did you find the dinner?
C'était pas mal, merci !
It was not bad, thank you!
✕Common Mistakes
C'était mal, merci.
This means "It was bad" – the opposite of the intended meaning.
Ce était pas mal, merci.
Incorrect word order; the correct contraction is "C'était".
Merci, c'était pas mal.
"Merci" should come after the comment, not before.
↔Alternatives
Ce n'était pas mal, merci.
It wasn't bad, thank you.
C'était assez bien, merci.
It was quite good, thank you.
C'était correct, merci.
It was okay, thank you.
Cultural Tip
French speakers often use modest expressions like "pas mal" to avoid sounding boastful. In casual conversation it conveys genuine appreciation while keeping a low‑key tone. In more formal settings you might opt for "c'était très bon" if you want stronger praise.