Bon après-midi mon amour
Bon après-midi mon amour is the French way to say "good afternoon my love".
This phrase is a romantic greeting used specifically during the period of the day between noon and evening to wish a partner or loved one a pleasant afternoon.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), après-midi (afternoon), mon (my) and amour (love).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The use of mon amour makes this a highly intimate and informal greeting suitable only for romantic partners. Bonne après-midi, mon amour! is also an informal way to express this sentiment.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word après-midi can be either masculine or feminine, but in this greeting, the masculine form bon is the standard usage.
Did you know?
- In France, a 'good afternoon' greeting is often accompanied by la bise, the traditional custom of kissing both cheeks.
- The word mon in mon amour was likely influenced by the Gaulish word mon meaning 'my', rather than coming solely from Latin.
- While you might use 'mon amour' for a partner, the word 'amour' in French can also be used in a non-romantic way to express deep affection for a child or a very close family member.
Examples in context
- Bon après-midi mon amour, je t'aime.Good afternoon my love, I love you.
- Passe un bon après-midi mon amour.Have a good afternoon my love.
Example conversation
Lucas is leaving for work and says goodbye to Chloé.
- LucasBon après-midi mon amour.Good afternoon my love.
- ChloéMerci, toi aussi mon chéri.Thank you, you too my dear.
- LucasJe t'aime très fort.I love you very much.
- ChloéMoi aussi, à plus tard !Me too, see you later!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries amour, après-midi, bon, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
