Please share today's "Dogs of France (and Europe!)" post with an animal lover. Meantime, French learners will appreciate notes on all the "bon" expressions (bon courage, bon appétit, bon séjour) and insights into the French idiosyncracy of well wishing. Read on … but first allow me to wish you bonne lecture!, or happy reading!
bon (boh(n) silent "n")
good; right, correct
Audio file: Listen to our daughter, Jackie, read the following example sentence: Download MP3 or Wav file
Bonne fête, bonne journée, bonne promenade… bon appétit… les francais ont la manie de souhaiter les bonnes choses! Happy holiday, have a good day, enjoy your walk… or meal… the French are obsessed with well-wishing!
The following post was inspired by a comment I received over the weekend:
Hi Kristin,
I was recently in France, and people wished me "bon courage" at the recent death of a family member there. Does this really mean "good luck"? This expression must have many meanings and uses. To my anglophone sensibilities, wishing someone good luck when a loved one passes away seems a bit odd and inappropriate. But I was wished "bon courage" with such heart felt emotion that I knew that this was an encouraging thing to wish me. Language is so interesting. Bette
Hi Bette,
I'm so sorry for your loss. You mentioned the bon courage expression meaning "good luck" and it seems this is true (though, for "good luck," the expression bonne chance also comes to my mind).
But back to bon courage… in addition to meaning "good luck," bon courage is also an expression of support, similar to "be strong" or even "take it easy."
Bette, your note about the French language reminds me of the confusion I often felt, when I first came to France, on discovering all the bonnes choses or "good" things the French were constantly wishing each other. I remember my surprise and embarrassment when complete strangers wished me bon appétit! while passing by the park bench, where I sat eating my lunch.
This very personal acknowledgment by a stranger would be the beginning of a budding insight into the French and their automatic courtesy. I leave you with several more examples of French well-wishing (which I've paired with some photos from the archives), and wish you, as my husband often wishes me when I set out to work: bonne édition! Enjoy this post! (or good luck writing today's post, as Jean-Marc said just this morning.)
Bon voyage… Photo taken in Sauve, Italy. Bon voyage is one of the more common courtesies you will hear the French wish each other.
Bon voyage = Have a good trip!
Bon rétablissement… Photo taken in Croatia. Bon rétablissement is something the French wish each other when they are sick or healing.
Bon rétablissment = Get well soon or speedy recovery!
Bon essayage? As I said, above, one thing that amused me when I first came to France, was how they were always well-wishing each other–everything from bon essayage to bon bricolage (I heard this last one at Castorama over the weekend.)
bon essayage! = happy trying-on!
bon bricolage = happy DIYing! (happy home improvement!)
Bon jardinage. I dare you to go to une pépinière or nursery this time of year and not hear this well-wish at the checkout lane:
bon jardinage! = happy gardening!
Bon débarras! Cats–and an imposter–in the town of Visan. Don't go getting the idea that all the wishes wished by the French are altruistic! From time to time you'll hear this one:
Bon débarras = good riddance!
Bonne dégustation. A wish I often hear, living with a winemaker who loves to share his vin with friends, is this one:
bonne dégustation! = enjoy your drink!
Bon reniflement? Just kidding, French dogs don't really wish this to each other… but one can't be sure about French perfumists, and their courtesies…
bon reniflement! = good sniffing!
Bon….? Your turn to decide what this dog is wishing its friend, and in so doing share several more "bon" expressions. Click here to share your answer.
By the way, will you please help name the dog types in today's edition? Click here to identify the dog breeds.
Bonne sieste! = Have a good nap! This napper, or vineyard dog, lives at Mas de Martin. Total animal lovers there.
Almost time, now, to wish you bon au revoir. On second thought, they don't say that at all in France! So much sweeter to say "à la prochaine!" (until next time…)
… and bonne continuation! I almost left out my favorite "bon(ne)" expression…
Bonne continuation! = I wish you all the best (also = Keep up the good work!)
Do you have a favorite "bon" expression? Share it with us in the comments corner, here.
Other Favorite Dogs! Don't miss them here:
Dog in Giens
Dog in Spain – Amazing fur style!
Hiding dog… can you guess who this is?
Dog with motorcycle
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
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Péage –bonne route
Péage –bonne route
Très sympa this post!Love it!Merci!
à la prochaine! 😉
Très sympa this post!Love it!Merci!
à la prochaine! 😉
Hi Kristin. Loved today’s edition. Bon courage will always be my favorite French phrase of encouragement. But I was wished “bon continuation” at lunch this week. I had finished my soup and when la serveuse put my main course in front of me she added, “Bon continuation.” Adorable!
Hi Kristin. Loved today’s edition. Bon courage will always be my favorite French phrase of encouragement. But I was wished “bon continuation” at lunch this week. I had finished my soup and when la serveuse put my main course in front of me she added, “Bon continuation.” Adorable!
TODAYS OFFERING IS BETTER THAN A CUP OF COFFEE TO GET THE JUCES FLOWING. CHECKING THE MAIL AT 0530 I FOUND JOY AND BEAUTY IN EACH PHOTO. I THINK THAT I WILL CONCENTRATE OF FINDING SUCH INTERESTING SUBJECT AS I MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THIS DAY, THANKS FOR SHARING.
GUS ELISON
TODAYS OFFERING IS BETTER THAN A CUP OF COFFEE TO GET THE JUCES FLOWING. CHECKING THE MAIL AT 0530 I FOUND JOY AND BEAUTY IN EACH PHOTO. I THINK THAT I WILL CONCENTRATE OF FINDING SUCH INTERESTING SUBJECT AS I MAKE MY WAY THROUGH THIS DAY, THANKS FOR SHARING.
GUS ELISON
Hi Kristin,
We live in the Hautes-Pyrénées and were confused when we first heard someone recommended a restaurant that was ‘terrible !’ Then someone would say that something was ‘pas terrible’.
We quickly realised that ‘terrible’ was slang/argot for good, great, or terrific and that ‘pas terrible’ meant that is was bad, not good, or awful. So a literal translation of pas terrible to ‘not bad’ was completely wrong. Like in any language, it’s the subtle word plays that reflect the culture.
Bonne journée,
Perry
http://www.perrytaylor.fr
Hi Kristin,
We live in the Hautes-Pyrénées and were confused when we first heard someone recommended a restaurant that was ‘terrible !’ Then someone would say that something was ‘pas terrible’.
We quickly realised that ‘terrible’ was slang/argot for good, great, or terrific and that ‘pas terrible’ meant that is was bad, not good, or awful. So a literal translation of pas terrible to ‘not bad’ was completely wrong. Like in any language, it’s the subtle word plays that reflect the culture.
Bonne journée,
Perry
http://www.perrytaylor.fr
This was, indeed, a bonne édition!
Merci, Kristin.
This was, indeed, a bonne édition!
Merci, Kristin.
Suggestion:
Bon saut!
Suggestion:
Bon saut!
It is very late at night where I live (at the bottom of the world….(derrier de la monde?) so I will just add bon nuit mes ami.
It is very late at night where I live (at the bottom of the world….(derrier de la monde?) so I will just add bon nuit mes ami.
Bonne route = Drive carefully…
Bonne route = Drive carefully…
Bon WE – Bon Weekend
Bon WE – Bon Weekend
Hi Kristin,
Love all the photos! Maybe the little Yorkie is saying to his friend down below….bon poo poo….haha
I love Bon Weekend too!
Hi Kristin,
Love all the photos! Maybe the little Yorkie is saying to his friend down below….bon poo poo….haha
I love Bon Weekend too!
Eileen, mais, bien sur–that is exactly what he or she is saying!
Thank you for all the bon expressions. Keep them coming and… bon travail!
Eileen, mais, bien sur–that is exactly what he or she is saying!
Thank you for all the bon expressions. Keep them coming and… bon travail!
I few years ago I attended Le Festival des Films du Monde in Montréal. Prior to each screening a woman would introduce the film and at the end of her remarks, just before the house lights went down, she would always wish us “bon cinéma.”
I few years ago I attended Le Festival des Films du Monde in Montréal. Prior to each screening a woman would introduce the film and at the end of her remarks, just before the house lights went down, she would always wish us “bon cinéma.”
bon courage – dans le contexte d’un enterrement signifie to give somebody courage, to be courageous.
En revanche: bonne chance – good luck
bon courage – dans le contexte d’un enterrement signifie to give somebody courage, to be courageous.
En revanche: bonne chance – good luck
The first photo looks like my wonderful Puli Barney that I used to have. Had to buy a vacuum cleaner to go along with him. Bonne journée !
The first photo looks like my wonderful Puli Barney that I used to have. Had to buy a vacuum cleaner to go along with him. Bonne journée !
bonne dimanche – good sabbath (the Sunday version of bonne journee). I heard this repeatedly at the Sunday market in St. Antonin de Nobel Val.
bonne dimanche – good sabbath (the Sunday version of bonne journee). I heard this repeatedly at the Sunday market in St. Antonin de Nobel Val.
Very cute. A friend just sent me volume 1 of a book of the winery dogs of Australia. Our little town last week beat out Annapolis, Maryland for the most Travel Friendly Pet City in the US! Of course all of France is that way.
I took the challenge of naming the dogs, sort of:
1? 2Brittany Spaniel 3Gascon shorthair? 4Malinois mix 5Wirehaired dashound 6Shorthair mix? 7Small Briard mix 8Same 9?
10Sheep guard dog(can’t remember the name)11mutt?or a puli without cording.
So I end with Bon chien to Braise and Smokey!
Very cute. A friend just sent me volume 1 of a book of the winery dogs of Australia. Our little town last week beat out Annapolis, Maryland for the most Travel Friendly Pet City in the US! Of course all of France is that way.
I took the challenge of naming the dogs, sort of:
1? 2Brittany Spaniel 3Gascon shorthair? 4Malinois mix 5Wirehaired dashound 6Shorthair mix? 7Small Briard mix 8Same 9?
10Sheep guard dog(can’t remember the name)11mutt?or a puli without cording.
So I end with Bon chien to Braise and Smokey!
As Karen said, une bonne édition! Merci pour les photos toutou (which I named my little guy). One year in Provence I had so much fun snapping pix of les chiens. I found that the French may be réticent about someone taking their photo, but not so with their pets. So much fun! Merci Kristin. You brightened my day. Bonne journée!
As Karen said, une bonne édition! Merci pour les photos toutou (which I named my little guy). One year in Provence I had so much fun snapping pix of les chiens. I found that the French may be réticent about someone taking their photo, but not so with their pets. So much fun! Merci Kristin. You brightened my day. Bonne journée!
Maybe the pup is saying Bon retour–does that work for wishing for his owner’s quick return? When I leave my dog, I always tell her “Back soon!”
Maybe the pup is saying Bon retour–does that work for wishing for his owner’s quick return? When I leave my dog, I always tell her “Back soon!”
Kristin, your eye for photography never ceases to amaze me! These photos are wonderful! Thank you.
Also, it was nice to see Chief Grape on his birthday in Seattle two weeks ago. Sorry there wasn’t more time to talk but he was in his element – discussing his wine with a crowd of ‘tasters’.
Bonne chance (my favorite phrase), along with ‘bon mot’.
Kristin, your eye for photography never ceases to amaze me! These photos are wonderful! Thank you.
Also, it was nice to see Chief Grape on his birthday in Seattle two weeks ago. Sorry there wasn’t more time to talk but he was in his element – discussing his wine with a crowd of ‘tasters’.
Bonne chance (my favorite phrase), along with ‘bon mot’.
Bonbon! Ha,ha! Passez-moi des chocolats! I know, not an expression, but my mind works this way!
Bonbon! Ha,ha! Passez-moi des chocolats! I know, not an expression, but my mind works this way!
Anatolian Shepard?
Anatolian Shepard?
Darling Kristi,
I love today’s post – made me so happy!!
XOXO
Mom
Darling Kristi,
I love today’s post – made me so happy!!
XOXO
Mom
Don’t have time this morning to identify dogs because I leave soon for my own bon voyage for a week. However, I want to thank your for clearing up the French obsession with “bon” phrases. I need to come back later and write all of these in my little French phrases book.
Don’t have time this morning to identify dogs because I leave soon for my own bon voyage for a week. However, I want to thank your for clearing up the French obsession with “bon” phrases. I need to come back later and write all of these in my little French phrases book.
Is “Bon travail” a “good” term? In Italian we learned “buon lavoro” (“good work”) which I think should be equivalent!
Is “Bon travail” a “good” term? In Italian we learned “buon lavoro” (“good work”) which I think should be equivalent!