bonne journée
/bɔn ʒuʁ.ne/
bonne journée is the French phrase for "have a good day".
This phrase is used specifically when the speaker expects the day to continue after the parting occurs. It is a way to wish someone a good day as you are leaving them.
Which one should you use?
While bonjour is used as a greeting when arriving, bonne journée is used as a farewell when leaving to wish someone a good day ahead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective bonne is the feminine form of bon to agree with the feminine noun journée.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔn ʒuʁ.ne/
Did you know?
- The word journée shares a common ancestor with the English word 'journal', as both trace back to the idea of a daily record or activity.
- Using bonne journée as a greeting upon arrival is a social faux pas. Doing so suggests to the other person that you are already intending to leave the conversation.
- In French shops and cafes, saying bonne journée on its own can be perceived as curt. It is customary to pair it with au revoir or merci to maintain a polite social distance.
Examples in context
- Merci, bonne journée !Thank you, have a good day!
- Allez, bonne journée à tous.Alright, have a good day, everyone.
- Au revoir, bonne journée !Goodbye, have a good day!
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are leaving a small cafe.
- LéaMerci pour le café, Nathan.Thank you for the coffee, Nathan.
- NathanDe rien, Léa. Bonne journée !You're welcome, Léa. Have a good day!
- LéaMerci, toi aussi !Thank you, you too!
- NathanÀ bientôt !See you soon!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bonne journée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries journée, CC BY-SA 4.0.
