porte-toi bien
To say "be well" in French, use porte-toi bien.
This phrase is used as a parting wish at the end of a conversation or a letter, rather than as a greeting. While the English "be well" is a common way to say goodbye, porte-toi bien is slightly more personal and focuses on the person's physical or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase porte-toi bien literally translates to "carry yourself well".
Which one should you use?
The phrase changes depending on who you are addressing. Use porte-toi bien for a single person you know well, and use portez-vous bien when addressing a group of people or a single person using the formal vous.
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form porte-toi bien is used when addressing one person with whom you have a familiar relationship using tu. If you are addressing a group or using the formal vous, you should use portez-vous bien.
Did you know?
- In French, the same verb porter is used to describe how clothes fit a person. If someone 'carries' a dress well, they are said to porter it well.
- The word bien is a cognate of the English word 'benign', which comes from the same Latin root meaning 'well' or 'kind'.
- In formal written correspondence, portez-vous bien is often considered a bit too intimate and is usually replaced by more standard professional formulas like Cordialement.
Examples in context
- Au revoir, porte-toi bien !Goodbye, be well!
- Prends soin de toi et porte-toi bien.Take care of yourself and be well.
- On se voit bientôt, porte-toi bien.See you soon, be well.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are saying goodbye after a coffee date.
- EmmaMerci pour ce bon moment, Hugo.Thank you for this good time, Hugo.
- HugoDe rien, Emma. À la prochaine !You're welcome, Emma. See you next time!
- EmmaOui, porte-toi bien d'ici là.Yes, be well until then.
- HugoToi aussi, salut !You too, bye!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bien, CC BY-SA 4.0.
