bonjour et bonne nuit
The English phrase "good morning and good night" is translated into French as bonjour et bonne nuit.
This phrase combines two common greetings: bonjour is the standard way to say both "hello" and "good morning", while bonne nuit is the standard phrase used to say "goodnight".
What does it mean word for word?
The word bonjour is a combination of bon (good) and jour (day).
Which one should you use?
While bonjour is used to greet someone during the day, bonne nuit is specifically used when someone is actually going to sleep or leaving for the night.
Did you know?
- In some French-speaking regions, you might hear bonsoir used as early as 5 PM, effectively replacing bonjour for the rest of the day.
- The word nuit descends from the Latin nox, which is the same root that gives English the word 'nocturnal'.
- In France, it is common to add the person's title, such as bonjour Monsieur or bonjour Madame, to avoid sounding abrupt or impolite.
Examples in context
- Il faut dire bonjour et bonne nuit à l'enfant.One must say good morning and good night to the child.
- On échange simplement bonjour et bonne nuit.We simply exchange good morning and good night.
Example conversation
Emma is leaving Hugo's house after a long visit.
- EmmaJe pars maintenant, Hugo.I am leaving now, Hugo.
- HugoDéjà ? À demain alors !Already? See you tomorrow then!
- EmmaOui, bonjour et bonne nuit !Yes, good morning and good night!
- HugoMerci, Emma. À demain !Thanks, Emma. See you tomorrow!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonjour, et, nuit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
