What does n'importe quoi in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word n'importe quoi in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use n'importe quoi in French.

The word n'importe quoi in French means anything, nonsense, Nonsense!, it's nonsense, that's nonsense, talk nonsense, say anything, say off the top of your head, say whatever comes into your head, be out of control, do anything for, just as an example, talk nonsense, say all sorts of things, answer with the first thing that comes into your head, anything and everything. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word n'importe quoi

anything

(action insensée)

(pronoun: Replaces noun--for example, "He took the cookie and ate it." "I saw you yesterday.")
N'importe quoi pour se faire remarquer !
Anything to get noticed!

nonsense

(parole insensée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ne fais pas attention, tu sais bien que ta sœur dit n'importe quoi !
Pay no attention - you know that your sister is talking nonsense!

Nonsense!

interjection (ce sont des bêtises)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Toi, tu es allé dans l'espace ? N'importe quoi !
You've been to space? Nonsense!

it's nonsense, that's nonsense

(familier (c'est insensé)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Vouloir que les enfants restent au bord de l'eau sans se mouiller, c'est n'importe quoi.

talk nonsense, say anything

locution verbale (dire des choses sans intérêt)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Arrête de n'importe quoi ! Bien sûr que l'Australie est dans l'hémisphère sud !

say off the top of your head, say whatever comes into your head

locution verbale (surtout avec « je » (prendre comme exemple)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si vous avez 10 usines, je dis n'importe quoi, alors, il vous faudra 50 machines comme celle-ci pour couvrir vos besoins.
If you have, let's say 10 factories, for example, you'll need 50 machines to meet your requirements.

be out of control

locution verbale (agir de façon peu sensée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Depuis que sa copine l'a quitté, Eric fait n'importe quoi et je m'inquiète pour lui.

do anything for

locution verbale (tout faire pour arriver à [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette actrice ferait n'importe quoi pour se faire remarquer.

just as an example

(je prends un exemple)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Et si, je dis n'importe quoi, vous effectuez un paiement le 12 janvier, vous ne serez débité que le 27 février.

talk nonsense

locution verbale (dire des choses fausses)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ne l'écoute pas, il raconte n'importe quoi !

say all sorts of things

locution verbale (dire une chose et son contraire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
They would do better to question the people concerned instead of saying any old thing!

answer with the first thing that comes into your head

locution verbale (répondre une chose sans intérêt)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

anything and everything

(une chose et son contraire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.