beaux rêves
The French phrase for "beautiful dreams" is beaux rêves.
This phrase is used to wish someone a pleasant night's sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase beaux rêves is composed of the masculine plural adjective beaux (beautiful) and the masculine plural noun rêves (dreams).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To express this sentiment as a complete sentence, you can use the informal Fais de beaux rêves. If you are addressing someone formally or speaking to a group of people, use the polite form Faites de beaux rêves.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the singular form, the phrase becomes beau rêve, which uses the masculine singular adjective beau and the masculine singular noun rêve.
Did you know?
- If you tell someone Tu rêves! in a conversational context, you aren't talking about sleep, but are telling them 'You're dreaming' in the sense of 'You're delusional' or 'In your dreams'.
- While beaux rêves is common, French speakers often prefer Fais dodo when speaking to children. The word dodo is a nursery term for sleep that is used as both a noun and a verb.
- In French, the word rêver can be used as a verb meaning 'to be delusional' or 'to be out of it', which is a far cry from the peaceful imagery of beaux rêves.
Examples in context
- Laissez-moi vous souhaiter de beaux rêves ce soir.Let me wish you beautiful dreams tonight.
- Puissent vos nuits être remplies de rêves enchantés.May your nights be filled with enchanted dreams.
- Bonne nuit! Fais de beaux rêves!Good night! Have beautiful dreams!
- Je te souhaite de beaux rêves.I wish you beautiful dreams.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are saying goodnight before going to bed.
- EmmaBonne nuit, Gabriel.Good night, Gabriel.
- GabrielBonne nuit, Emma. Fais de beaux rêves.Good night, Emma. Have beautiful dreams.
- EmmaMerci, toi aussi !Thank you, you too!
- GabrielÀ demain.See you tomorrow.
