How To Say You 'Don't Mind' in French

Ça m'est égal is a common French expression that is pronounced "sa meht aygahl." Literally, it means "that's equal to me," but in use, it actually means "It's all the same to me" or "It doesn't matter to me" or even "Not to worry; I'm easy."

It is often used in response to a choice between two or more options, whether they are stated or implied. And one other thing: Ça m'est égal can be seen as flippant, depending on how the message is delivered. So take care with how you say this expression.

It's All in the Telling

If you say, "Ça m'est égal" softly with a neutral expression or with a quick bof, aka a Gallic shrug, you probably mean "I don't feel strongly about it," "I'm not fussy," "I'm not bothered" or "I don't mind."

If you say, "Ça m'est égal" a little more strongly or with a flip wave of the hand and a touch of annoyance, you could mean "I don't care" or "It's starting to get on my nerves."

If you say, "Ça m'est complètement égal," you could mean, "I really don't care" or "I couldn't care less."

All this will become clear when you scroll down to the list of possible synonyms for ça m'est égal.

Examples of 'ça m'est égal'

Here are some exchanges in everyday language using ça m'est égal:

  • Est-ce que tu veux une pomme ou une poire ? Ça m'est égal. > Do you want an apple or a pear? Either one. It doesn't matter to me.
  • Dîner en ville ou chez nous, ça m'est égal. > Eating out or in, it's all the same to me.
  • Je veux partir à midi. Ça m'est égal. > I want to leave at noon. It's all the same to me (regarding the time we leave).

Ça m'est égal can be adapted to other grammatical persons by changing the indirect object pronoun. For example:

  • Ça t'est égal ? > It's all the same to you?
  • Ça nous est égal. > It's all the same to us.

Synonyms

In ascending degrees of intensity, synonyms of ça m'est égal include:

1. In informal language, if you mean "I don't care," you could use, instead of ça m'est égal, the following expressions, which are regarded as slang or light street language:

  • Je m'en fiche. Je m'en moque. > "I don't care" / "I don't give a d--n."

2. If you don't care, but the subject annoys you, you could use this common familiar language:

  • Ça m'agace. > That's getting on my nerves.
  • Ça m'embête. > That bothers me.
  • Ça m'ennuie. > I'm bothered / embarrassed / bored.

3. If you feel strongly about not caring, you could use more emphatic street language. Be forewarned: These expressions can be vulgar. That said, if you visit France, you will likely hear this kind of language on the street, and it's useful to know what it means and how to respond:

  • Je m'en fous. > I don't give a d--n. / I don't give a f--k.
  • J'en ai rien à foutre. > I don't give a d--n. / I don't give a f--k. / Like I give a s--t.
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Team, ThoughtCo. "How To Say You 'Don't Mind' in French." ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/ca-mest-egal-1371134. Team, ThoughtCo. (2021, December 6). How To Say You 'Don't Mind' in French. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/ca-mest-egal-1371134 Team, ThoughtCo. "How To Say You 'Don't Mind' in French." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/ca-mest-egal-1371134 (accessed March 19, 2024).