This lesson will explain how to use aucun, aucune in French, meaning none, not one and “no”. Aucun(e) can be used as both a negation structure and a pronoun.
aucun, aucune
None, not one, no
Example sentences
These first three examples use the negation structure ne + aucun(e) + noun, meaning “no + noun”. The word aucun(e) must agree in gender with the noun.
Je n’ai aucun doûte. Je suis sûr et certain !
I have no doubt. I’m sure!
Désolé. Je n’ai aucuné idée.
Sorry. I have no idea.
Je n’ai aucune envie de travailler aujourd’hui !
I have no desire to work today!
Aucun/aucune may also be used as a pronoun in a sentence meaning “none of”. For these sentences, the structure is: aucun(e) de + noun, meaning “none of + noun”. Again, aucun(e) must agree in gender with the noun.
Aucun de mes amis ne parlent le chinois.
None of my friends speak Chinese.
For this last sentence, the verb convenir can also translate to “to be suitable for” or “to be just right for”.
Aucune de ces dates ne me convient.
None of the dates work for me.
Related lessons
Reference
Word of the Day | Lessons by David Issokson
