rien

nothing; anything

“Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.” — paraphrased

Inherited from Middle French rien, from Old French rien, from Latin rem (“thing”). Compare Catalan res (“nothing”) or Galician ren (“nothing”).

a nothing

“petits riens – little things, little nothings”

Inherited from Middle French rien, from Old French rien, from Latin rem (“thing”). Compare Catalan res (“nothing”) or Galician ren (“nothing”).