bonne musique
The English phrase "good music" is translated into French as bonne musique.
The phrase is used to describe music that is of high quality or pleasing to the ear. Depending on the level of praise or the context, you might use other expressions such as de la musique de qualité (quality music), une musique excellente (excellent music), une musique remarquable (remarkable music) or de la musique géniale (awesome music). If you want to use very informal slang to describe exceptionally good or mind-blowing music, you can say de la musique qui déchire, which literally means "music that tears".
Which one should you use?
In French, the adjective must agree with the noun. While "good" is a neutral adjective in English, the French form bonne is specifically the feminine form used to agree with the feminine noun musique.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase in a partitive sense, for example, when saying you are listening to or playing "some" good music, it is common to use the partitive article de la, resulting in de la bonne musique.
Did you know?
- When French speakers discuss 'good music' in a classical context, they may use belle musique, using the word for 'beautiful' where an English speaker would typically use 'good'.
- The word musique descends from the Ancient Greek word for the 'art of the Muses', the goddesses who presided over inspiration and the arts.
- In French, describing music as bonne can sometimes be ambiguous, as bon can also refer to a 'correct' or 'right' piece of music for a specific purpose rather than just high quality.
Examples in context
- Cette station passe de la bonne musique.This station plays good music.This sentence is useful for describing what a radio station plays.Tatoeba #11045861 by Aiji, translation #4552569 by AlanF_US
- Ce n'est pas si difficile d'apprécier la bonne musique.It is not so difficult to appreciate good music.This sentence is useful for expressing the idea of appreciating music.Tatoeba #377954 by TRANG, translation #30082 by AlanF_US
- On ne peut davantage écrire en bon anglais que l'on ne peut composer de la bonne musique, en respectant seulement les règles.One can no more write good English than one can compose good music, merely by keeping the rules.This sentence is useful for making a comparison between writing English and composing music.Tatoeba #12514 by sacredceltic, translation #40863 by papabear
- J'adore écouter de la bonne musique pendant mes trajets en voiture.I love listening to good music during my car rides.
- Quand je suis triste, j'aime écouter de la musique qui déchire pour me remonter le moral.When I'm sad, I like to listen to mind-blowing music to lift my spirits.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Nathan are at a friend's house party.
- NathanIl y a de la bonne musique ici.There is good music here.
- ManonOui, elle est vraiment entraînante.Yes, it is really catchy.
- NathanTu veux danser, Manon ?Do you want to dance, Manon?
- ManonAvec une bonne musique comme ça, pourquoi pas !With good music like this, why not!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries musique, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
