rien

French

Etymology

From Old French rien, from Latin rem (accusative of res ‘thing’).

Pronunciation

• audio

  (file)

• IPA: /ʁjɛ̃/, SAMPA: /RjE~/

Pronoun

rien

1. nothing
2. anything

Synonyms

• que dalle

Related terms

• de rien

See also

• ne
• néant
• pas

Anagrams

• nier, rein

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Old French

Etymology

From Latin rem, accusative of res.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /riẽn/
• Rhymes: -ẽn

Noun

rien f. (oblique plural riens, nominative singular riens, nominative plural riens)

1. thing; object
2. being; creature

Pronoun

rien

1. thing
   • circa 1170, Chrétien de Troyes, Érec et Énide:

     "Oïl, mout m'an sovient il bien.
     Seneschaus, savez vos an rien?

     Yes, I remember it well

     Seneschal, do you know anything about it?

2. (used with "ne") nothing

Descendants

• French: rien