Phrase

[Thomas D Gant]

  English translation of    je vous en prie ?

[Neil Coffey]

It usually means "Sure", "You're welcome", as in "Thanks. You're welcome."

[Ed la mouette]

I don't understand in which case "sure" can be translated by "je vous en prie", Neil.

By the way, another common meaning is "please", in a stronger style. If you want the salt, you say "passez-moi le sel s'il vous plait", but if you're in danger, shout "aidez-moi, je vous en prie !" (or also : je vous en supplie).

[Neil Coffey]

Hi Ed -- in US usage, "Sure" is often used as an equivalent to "You're welcome" when somebody thanks you. In British usage, this is far less common.

 

Good point about the more "literal" usage tha you mention-- it completely slipped my mind to mention it!

[stu harris]

That's quite correct, about US usage of "sure." Another one, common in business relationships, is "You bet." I'm not sure if I like that or not. I don't use it. If I say anything in reply to "thankyou" I use the somewhat outdated "Don't mention it."

[stu harris]

Which is more common in France today -- Je vous en prie or Il n'y a pas de quoi?