Ways to say it
| French | IPA |
|---|---|
| bonjour | /bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/ |
| bon après-midi | /bɔ.n‿a.pʁɛ.mi.di/ |
bonjour is the standard greeting used throughout the day. In contrast, bon après-midi is specifically used to wish someone a good afternoon, often acting as a parting phrase similar to 'have a good afternoon' rather than a greeting upon arrival.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bon après-midi is composed of bon (good), après (after) and midi (noon/midday).
Which one should you use?
While bonjour is the standard greeting used throughout the day, bon après-midi is specifically used to wish someone a good afternoon, often when leaving or as a polite remark.
Is it said differently in some regions?
bonjour is widely used in France, while bonne après-midi is commonly used in Monaco.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase bon après-midi can be used as either a masculine or feminine noun, though it is most commonly used in the masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ̃.ʒuʁ/
Did you know?
- While bonjour is the standard greeting, saying it to a stranger in a shop without first making eye contact or a small gesture can be perceived as impolite in France.
- The word bon shares an ancient ancestor with the Latin word 'bonus', which is where English words like 'beneficial' or 'bonanza' find their roots.
- In very formal settings, bonjour is often accompanied by Monsieur or Madame to avoid sounding too abrupt.
Examples in context
- Bonjour.Good afternoon.This sentence shows a simple use of bonjour.Tatoeba #3557547 by fleur74, translation #499689 by CK
- Bonjour !Good afternoon!This sentence shows an enthusiastic use of bonjour.Tatoeba #373345 by Aiji, translation #3552554 by Meruert
- Bonjour. Vous êtes notre nouveau voisin, si je ne me trompe ?Good afternoon. You are our new neighbor, if I'm not mistaken?This sentence shows how to use bonjour when introducing oneself to a neighbor.Tatoeba #1403786 by manuchko, translation #871529 by CM
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel meet at a café in the afternoon.
- ChloéBonjour, Gabriel !Good afternoon, Gabriel!
- GabrielBonjour, Chloé. Comment vas-tu ?Good afternoon, Chloé. How are you?
- ChloéJe vais très bien, merci.I am doing very well, thank you.
- GabrielMoi aussi. On s'assoit ici ?Me too. Shall we sit here?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good afternoon” translations and entries bonjour, bon après-midi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries après-midi, bon, bonjour, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
