Bonjour, mes amis
The English phrase "good morning, my friends" is translated into French as Bonjour, mes amis.
This is a friendly greeting used to say hello to a group of friends in the morning.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bon (good), jour (day), mes (my, plural) and amis (friends).
Which one should you use?
While English distinguishes between "good morning" and "good afternoon", in French Bonjour is used for both, as there is no direct equivalent to a specific standalone "good morning" greeting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the variation Bon matin, mes amis! is commonly used.
How does it change in a sentence?
If the group of friends consists only of women, the spelling of the final word changes to reflect the feminine plural, resulting in Bonjour, mes amies.
Did you know?
- In France, saying Bonjour to a shopkeeper or waiter upon entering is not just a greeting but a mandatory social requirement. Failing to say it can be perceived as a serious insult or a sign of aggression.
- A common gesture accompanying Bonjour, mes amis among close friends is la bise, which involves kissing both cheeks. The number of kisses varies by region in France.
- The term jour in Bonjour is a direct descendant of the Old French 'jor', which is a linguistic relative of the English word 'journey' through the concept of a day's travel.
Examples in context
- Bon matin, mes amis! Qu'avez-vous prévu pour aujourd'hui?Good morning, my friends! What have you planned for today?
- Bonjour, mes amis, comment allez-vous ?Good morning, my friends, how are you?
Example conversation
Gabriel walks into a cafe where Léa and her friends are sitting.
- GabrielBonjour, mes amis !Good morning, my friends!
- LéaBonjour Gabriel ! Tu viens t'asseoir ?Good morning Gabriel! Are you coming to sit down?
- GabrielOui, merci beaucoup.Yes, thank you very much.
- LéaOn a commandé un café pour toi aussi.We ordered a coffee for you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bonjour, bonjour, mes, CC BY-SA 4.0.
