bonjour et bon après-midi
The English phrase "good morning and good afternoon" is expressed in French as bonjour et bon après-midi.
This phrase is used to wish someone a good start to their day and a pleasant afternoon.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, you might hear bon matin instead of bonjour to say good morning.
Did you know?
- If you use 'bon après-midi' to greet someone walking into a shop, you might actually be telling them 'have a good afternoon' as if you were already leaving them.
- Although bonjour is the standard greeting, in many French professional settings it is customary to accompany the word with a light handshake or a 'la bise' cheek kiss.
- The word 'bon' shares a common ancestor with the Latin 'bonus', which is also the root of the English word 'bonus'.
Example conversation
Léa is starting a presentation for a group of colleagues.
- LéaBonjour et bon après-midi à tous.Good morning and good afternoon to everyone.
- GabrielMerci Léa, bonjour !Thank you Léa, hello!
- LéaEst-ce que vous êtes prêts ?Are you all ready?
- GabrielOui, nous t'écoutons.Yes, we are listening to you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries après-midi, bon, bonjour, et, CC BY-SA 4.0.
