The French art of well wishing in today's edition. Enjoy and thanks for sharing this post with a friend!
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!
BON THIS AND BONNE THAT
The following post was inspired by a comment I received:
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 is something the French wish each other when they are sick or healing.
Bon rétablissment = Get well soon or speedy recovery!
Bon essayage? One thing that amused me when I first came to France, was how the French 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!
By the way, today is Saturday–the perfect time to with you bon week-end!
Bon week-end = have a great weekend!
Bonne sieste! = "Have a good nap!" says this vineyard dog.
bonne sieste! = enjoy your nap!
Almost time 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!)
Reorder your favorite French products here:
EMBRYOLISSE concentrated lait cream – customer reviews here.
BIODERMA Makeup remover – see the reviews here
AVENE thermal spring water - check out the reviews here
KLORANE dry shampoo – all hair types, adds volume – read the reviews here
La ROCHE-POSAY Anthelios sunscreen – see the reviews reviews here
Other Favorite Dogs from Kristi archives! 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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Bonjour Kristi,
Vous nous apprendre beaucoup d” expressions utiles.
Je profite de votre post et j”aime les photos.
Vous êtes très artistique.
Mille merci!
Bonne journnée
Marti
I enjoyed that, even if I’m fairly good in French !
Magnifique post. Heart warming and inspiring!
Merci beaucoup
Bon nuit
I always found bonne fin d’apres midi to be cute
Kristin, there are expressions in Russian. My favourite is ‘S obnovkoy!’ in Russian or, ‘Tidhadshi’ (feminine) or ‘Tidhadesh’ (masculine) in Hebrew. That’s what we wish someone wearing a new piece of clothing or footwear. In English, we would say, “Hey, nice dress! Is it new?” Wouldn’t it be wonderful to, instead, have an expression such as, “Enjoy your new dress!” It just doesn’t sound the same.
YES! I loved today’s post! You captured the distinctions perfectly. I love the well-wishing for any and every aspect of life that the French express. Thank you, Catherine
Chère Kristin,
Quel recueil magnigique de photos et d’expressions! J’ai reconnu presque toutes les expressions. Je suis prof de français, et vous m’avez rendu un grand service en les rassemblant pour me permettre de les employer avec mes élèves. Et, en y pensant, je suis d’accord avec vous: les Français emploient ces expressions souvent, presque automatiquement (comme “Messieurs-dames,” quand ils entrent presque n’importe où). C’est très français!
Merci, et bon travail! 🙂
Leslie B
Swannanoa, NC
i Loved not only all of your ‘bons’ but all of the posts! Wow.
Bon!
Lovely édition!
commenting from Singapore on way to Java.
Wish me bon voyage!
Merci!
French genealogists often wish each other . I’ve also heard the expression when referring someone to a good book.
French genealogists often wish each other “bonnes recherches”, and I’ve heard “bonne lecture” when someone recommends a good book to a friend.
I agree with many of these comments – this was very helpful. I, too, was quite confused with all of the ‘bons’ and ‘ bonnes’. Thank you.
At the cinema, they wish you “bon film” (!)
If you are sending an enclosure or attachment to a letter or email, you can sign off “en vous souhaitant bonne réception de la présente”…
Katia, my husband is Armenian and they also have expressions of “congratulations” if you have a new dress or something, and even an expression for “enjoy your shower / bath”!
Love the doggy pics – keep them coming
Elma
Hello,
Love the pictures. Animals never fail to amaze and pictures often tell their story.
The post bon/bonne is most very helpful. The French do love bon and bonne……and that is a charming habit.
Bonne journée is used a lot so I always try to say that when leaving a shop.
We are all but snowed in here in Chicagoland so the snowless pictures were a treat.
Please excuse me, but I have been out of touch and noticed in a post you have had a loss. I am deeply sorry, but don’t know what the loss was. Courage.
Take care.
Cheryl
Love this blog, Kristy! So amusant, and informative, too! And, the photos are wonderful
Thank you for this treat!
Bonjour Kristin – your site is very helpful to me. I’ve lived in France the past 3 years and every day I learn something new, especially from you.
Just a query, when people say bon weekend, bonne journee, etc. what is the correct way to respond?
Great post today ,Kristin I love the way even toddlers & surly teenagers still say bonne journée whenever they see you in the village.
Another one is ‘bonne route’, for a journey by car. Bonne vacançes when loading the car prior to leaving on holiday I’ve even had ‘bonne plantation’ when bent over my troughs in front of my house !
Alors, bonne continuation !
I always learn something from this blog! Merci Kristin!
In french SW Louisiana, we say “Bon Matin” meaning good morning or “de bon matin”. meaning early in the morning.
Love the photos & opportunity to learn new words & different nuances of la langue française ! Merci beaucoup!
I love how the French say ‘Bonne Annee’ until February 1!
And always ‘Bonjour’ to colleagues in the office. And if you see them again, ‘Re-bonjour’
Bonne écriture❤️