bon rétablissement
/bɔ̃ ʁe.ta.blis.mɑ̃/
In French, 'get well soon' is expressed as bon rétablissement. Wiktionary also lists prompt rétablissement.
Meaning: expressing hope that someone recovers soon (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| bon rétablissement | /bɔ̃ ʁe.ta.blis.mɑ̃/ |
| prompt rétablissement | /pʁɔ̃ ʁe.ta.blis.mɑ̃/ |
These phrases are used to express hope that someone recovers from an illness or surgery. While appropriate for these situations, they are not typically used for minor ailments like a slight headache or a small scratch.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bon rétablissement literally translates to 'good recovery'.
Which one should you use?
For a more formal tone, especially in written correspondence, you can use prompt rétablissement, which means 'prompt recovery'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the phrase into a complete sentence, you can add Je vous souhaite un… (I wish you a…) to the beginning, as in Je vous souhaite un bon rétablissement.
Did you know?
- If someone is recovering from a physical injury rather than an illness, French speakers often use bon courage to acknowledge the persistence needed to heal.
- If you are speaking to a close friend, you might skip the formal 'recovery' talk entirely and say soigne-toi bien, which literally translates to 'treat yourself well'.
- The word prompt in prompt rétablissement is a 'learned borrowing' from Latin, meaning it entered French through formal scholarly use rather than evolving naturally from spoken Old French.
Examples in context
- Bon rétablissement.Get well soon!This is a simple way to say 'Get well soon!'Tatoeba #6805601 by Micsmithel, translation #645644 by CK
- Bon rétablissement !Get well soon.This shows the phrase used as an exclamation.Tatoeba #7477467 by Micsmithel, translation #5416405 by CK
- Bon rétablissement, Anne !Get well soon, Anna!This demonstrates how to include a person's name with bon rétablissement.Tatoeba #14025859 by Ioan_Cristian, translation #14025858 by Ioan_Cristian
- J'espère que vous connaîtrez un prompt rétablissement. Prenez soin de vous!I hope you have a speedy recovery. Take care of yourself!
- Je vous envoie mes meilleurs vœux de prompt rétablissement. Reposez-vous bien!I'm sending you my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Rest well!
- Remets-toi vite et appelle-moi si tu as besoin de quoi que ce soit!Get well soon, and call me if you need anything!
- J'espère que tu te rétabliras rapidement. On pense fort à toi!I hope you recover quickly. We are thinking of you!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel is visiting Léa, who is sick in bed.
- GabrielJe suis désolé que tu sois malade.I am sorry that you are sick.
- LéaMerci, je me sens un peu mieux.Thanks, I feel a bit better.
- GabrielC'est bien. Bon rétablissement, Léa !That's good. Get well soon, Léa!
- LéaC'est très gentil, Gabriel.That's very kind, Gabriel.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “get well soon” translations and entries bon rétablissement, prompt rétablissement, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bon, prompt, rétablissement, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
