Je n'y suis pour rien

Expression: Je n'y suis pour rien

Pronunciation: [zheu nee swee poor rye(n)]

Meaning: It has nothing to do with me, I had nothing to do with it

Literal translation: I'm not there for anything

Register: normal

Notes: You can use the French expression je n'y suis pour rien to proclaim your innocence in the present or past, and you can also use it with other subjects (both animate and inanimate) - just remember to change je... suis to the correct subject and verb conjugation.

Examples

   C'est Henri qui a pris ton CD - je n'y suis pour rien !
   Henri took your CD - I had nothing to do with it!

   Marie est toujours à l'école - elle n'y est pour rien.
   Marie is still at school - she's got nothing to do with this.

   Je ne veux pas y aller avec eux - mon emploi n'y est pour rien.
   I don't want to go with them - my job has nothing to do with it.

Je n'y suis pour rien is most commonly used in the present tense, even when the situation is in the past, as in the first example. But you can also use it in the imperfect:

   La dispute a commencé dans le couloir - je n'y étais pour rien.
   The argument started in the hallway - I had nothing to do with it.

Synonymous expression: rien à voir

Similar (but not synonymous) expression: Je n'y peux rien


More

• Expressions with être
• Expressions with pour
• Expressions with rien
• Rien and other negative pronouns
• Most common French phrases