bonne chance
/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/
bonne chance is the French phrase for "good luck".
The phrase bonne chance is used to wish someone success or good luck.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine adjective bonne (good) and the feminine noun chance (luck/chance).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because chance is a feminine noun, the adjective bon must take the feminine form bonne.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/
Did you know?
- In the French theater world, it is considered bad luck to say bonne chance to a performer. Instead, people say merde, which translates to 'shit'.
- The word chance shares the same root as the English word 'cadence'. Both stem from the Latin concept of something 'falling' into place, whether it is a musical rhythm or a stroke of luck.
- While 'good luck' is a common wish in English, telling a French person bonne chance can sometimes feel heavy or even slightly superstitious. In certain contexts, it can imply that the person's success depends entirely on blind luck rather than their own skill.
Examples in context
- J'ai un entretien d'embauche important demain.I have an important job interview tomorrow.
- Je vous souhaite bonne chance!I wish you good luck!
- Je vais bientôt passer mon permis de conduire.I'll be taking my driving test soon.
- Bonne chance!Good luck!
- Bonne chance pour ton examen !Good luck with your exam!
- Je te souhaite bonne chance.I wish you good luck.
- Bonne chance pour ton entretien demain.Good luck with your interview tomorrow.
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are saying goodbye before Emma's big presentation.
- LucasBonne chance pour ta présentation, Emma !Good luck with your presentation, Emma!
- EmmaMerci beaucoup, Lucas !Thanks a lot, Lucas!
- LucasTu vas réussir, j'en suis sûr.You will succeed, I am sure of it.
- EmmaC'est très gentil, à plus tard !That's very kind, see you later!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonne chance, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chance, CC BY-SA 4.0.
