bon appétit
/bɔ.n‿a.pe.ti/
In French, the phrase for "good appetite" is bon appétit.
The most common and widely used way to express this in French is bon appétit, which is used to wish someone an enjoyable meal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In France, you might come across the expression bonne dégustation, especially in more formal dining establishments.
How does it change in a sentence?
The grammar changes depending on your meaning. When used as an interjection to wish someone a good meal, the article un is typically omitted. However, when describing the physical capacity to eat a large amount of food, the article un is included.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ.n‿a.pe.ti/
Did you know?
- While it sounds like a polite wish, saying bon appétit can actually be considered slightly impolite by some strict traditionalists or 'old school' etiquette experts who believe one should not mention the physical act of digestion at the table.
- French culture places such importance on the meal that bon appétit is often said even for a very small snack or a quick coffee break, not just for large dinners.
- The word appétit is a loanword from the Latin appetītus, which originally referred to a longing or a desire for something.
Examples in context
- Il a un bon appétit.He has a good appetite.This sentence shows how to use bon appétit to describe someone's physical capacity to eat.Tatoeba #132646 by nimfeo, translation #299795 by CK
- J'ai bon appétit aujourd'hui.I have a good appetite today.This sentence illustrates using bon appétit to describe a person's physical capacity to eat.Tatoeba #8425 by dominiko, translation #242902 by CK
- Ils ont bon appétit ce matin.They have good appetite this morning.This sentence demonstrates the use of bon appétit when referring to a person's physical capacity to eat.Tatoeba #2887141 by Amastan, translation #4923320 by BoriQa
- je vous souhaite un bon repasI wish you a good meal
- Bon appétit, profitez-en bien!Enjoy your meal!
- Régalez-vous, faites-vous plaisir!Enjoy your meal, indulge yourself!
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hugo and Emma are sitting down to eat lunch together.
- HugoBon appétit, Emma !Enjoy your meal, Emma!
- EmmaMerci, Hugo. Bon appétit à toi aussi.Thanks, Hugo. Enjoy your meal too.
- HugoMerci, ce plat sent très bon.Thanks, this dish smells very good.
- EmmaC'est gentil, régale-toi bien !That's kind, enjoy your food!
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
