Using the PCAC relation, we derive a compact formula for the pion decay constant F_\pi in the nonlocal chiral quark model. For practical calculations this formula may be used both in the Minkowski and in the Euclidean space. For the pion momentum P_\mu \rightarrow 0 it reduces to the well known expression derived earlier by other authors. Using a generalized dipole Ansatz for the momentum dependence of the constituent quark mass in the Minkowski space, we express F_\pi ² in terms of a single integral over the quark momentum fraction u. We interpret the integrand as a pion distribution amplitude \phi (u). We discuss its properties and compare with the \pi DA's obtained in other models.

PACS numbers: 11.40.Ha, 11.30.Rd, 14.40.Aq