bon courage pour ton examen
The English phrase "good luck in your exam" is expressed in French as bon courage pour ton examen.
This phrase is used to wish someone success and strength when they are about to take a test. While it translates to "good luck", it is more specifically used to acknowledge the effort and difficulty involved in a task. Because of this, bon courage can be used for any difficult or taxing task one is about to undertake.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase bon courage literally translates to "good courage".
Which one should you use?
In English, speakers typically say "good luck" for exams, but French speakers more commonly use bon courage to recognize the person's effort and the difficulty of the situation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word ton (your) in bon courage pour ton examen makes the phrase informal and suitable for friends, family or peers. To make the phrase formal or to address more than one person, replace ton with votre.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use bonne chance (good luck) for exams, but this can imply a sense of pure chance or luck. Since an exam requires hard work, bon courage is more appropriate.
Did you know?
- The word examen is a learned borrowing from Latin, but it has a surprising doublet in the French word essaim, which means 'swarm' of bees.
- In many French-speaking cultures, saying bonne chance to a performer before a show is avoided. Instead, they might use a phrase equivalent to 'break a leg' to avoid jinxing the outcome.
Examples in context
- Bonne chance pour votre examen, Marie. Je suis sûr que vous réussirez!Good luck for your exam, Marie. I'm sure you will succeed!
- Bonne chance pour ton examen, Laura! Tu vas tout déchirer!Good luck for your exam, Laura! You're going to ace it!
- Bon courage pour ton partiel demain !Good luck for your midterm tomorrow!
- Bon courage pour ton examen demain.Good luck in your exam tomorrow.
- Bon courage pour ton examen de mathématiques !Good luck in your math exam!
Example conversation
Hugo is preparing his bag for school and Manon says goodbye.
- ManonBon courage pour ton examen, Hugo.Good luck in your exam, Hugo.
- HugoMerci beaucoup, Manon.Thank you very much, Manon.
- ManonTu vas réussir, j'en suis sûre.You are going to succeed, I am sure of it.
- HugoC'est gentil, à plus tard !That's kind, see you later!
