bon
/bɔ̃/masculine
The English phrase "good" in French is translated as bon.
The adjective bon is used to describe something as pleasant or enjoyable. It can also be used as an exclamation to express satisfaction.
Meaning: pleasant, enjoyable (adj)
Which one should you use?
The adjective bon means "good", whereas the word bien is an adverb meaning "well". In certain contexts, bien can also function as a noun meaning an "item of merchandise".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine singular form is bon, and the feminine singular form is bonne. For plural forms, use bons for masculine plural and bonnes for feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ̃/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use bon when they actually mean "well". For example, avoid saying C'est bon if you intend to say "It is doing well". In that case, you should use bien.
Did you know?
- The phrase bon appétit is so globally recognized that it is used in English, yet in strict French etiquette, some consider it impolite to say because it wishes for a physical appetite rather than a pleasant meal.
- The French adjective bon is actually a 'false friend' for English speakers when describing how an activity or a person is performing. While you might say 'It is good' in English, using C'est bon in French often implies that something is physically delicious or sexually satisfying rather than just 'well'.
- While bon can mean 'good', it is also the root of the French word bonheur, which means 'happiness'. It literally translates to a 'good truth' or 'good fate' in its older conceptual sense.
Examples in context
- Ça sent bon !It smells good!This sentence shows how to use bon to describe a smell.Tatoeba #10655 by sacredceltic, translation #66685 by CK
- Ça a bon goût.This tastes good.This sentence demonstrates using bon to describe a taste.Tatoeba #1067016 by sacredceltic, translation #1066826 by CK
- Tom a bon dos.Tom has a good excuse.This sentence illustrates the use of bon in the context of an excuse.Tatoeba #3178733 by nimfeo, translation #6780526 by Eccles17
- J'ai passé une bonne journéeI had a good day
- C'est excellentIt's excellent
- C'est super coolIt's super cool
- Ta fête était génialeYour party was amazing
- C'est vraiment topIt's really top-notch
- Tout va bienEverything is good
- C'est une soirée chouetteIt's a cool party
- C'est bonIt's good
- C'est génialIt's amazing
- J'ai mangé une bonne pizzaI ate a good pizza
- 3972 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are talking about a movie they just watched.
- ChloéTu as aimé le film ?Did you like the movie?
- GabrielOui, c'était un bon film.Yes, it was a good movie.
- ChloéMoi aussi, j'ai passé un bon moment.Me too, I had a good time.
- GabrielOn devrait en voir un autre.We should watch another one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good” translations and entries bon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
