bon appétit
/bɔ.n‿a.pe.ti/
The English phrase "eat well" can be expressed in French as bon appétit.
In French, bon appétit is a polite social convention used immediately before a meal begins to wish someone a good meal. Depending on the context of "eating well," other expressions may be more appropriate. If you are referring to the concept of eating healthily, you might use Manger sainement, Se nourrir correctement or Adopter une alimentation équilibrée in formal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bon appétit is composed of the adjective bon (good) and the noun appétit (appetite).
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ.n‿a.pe.ti/
When do people say it?
It is common practice in French culture to use bon appétit as a polite social convention just as a meal is about to be eaten.
Did you know?
- While it is a standard social grace, some very traditional or 'old school' French circles consider saying bon appétit slightly impolite because it focuses on the physical sensation of hunger rather than the quality of the food.
- In many French-speaking households, instead of saying bon appétit, a host might simply say À table! which translates to 'To the table!' to signal that the meal is served.
- The word appétit in French shares its roots with the English word 'appetite', but it also connects to the Latin 'appetere', meaning 'to strive towards' or 'to aim at'.
Examples in context
- Lors de ma conférence, j'ai souligné l'importance de manger sainement pour maintenir une bonne santé.During my lecture, I emphasized the importance of eating healthily to maintain good health.
- Bon appétit !Enjoy your meal!
- Merci, bon appétit à vous aussi.Thank you, enjoy your meal too.
- Tout le monde, bon appétit !Enjoy your meal, everyone!
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé are sitting at a restaurant.
- NathanLe plat arrive, bon appétit, Chloé !The dish is arriving, enjoy your meal, Chloé!
- ChloéMerci Nathan, bon appétit à toi aussi.Thank you Nathan, enjoy your meal too.
- NathanMerci, ça a l'air délicieux.Thank you, it looks delicious.
- ChloéOui, profitons de ce moment.Yes, let's enjoy this moment.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bon appétit, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries appétit, bon, bon appétit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
