Bonne nuit
neutral
In Canadian French you say Bonne nuit to wish someone a good night, usually when one of you is going to bed. Dors bien means "sleep well". It is also called bonne soirée.
Meaning: wish before sleep (phrase)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Bonne nuit | neutral |
| dors bien | friendly |
| bonne soirée | evening |
Use Bonne nuit at bedtime and Bonne soirée when you part in the evening and the other person is still up. With several people say Bonne nuit, tout le monde.
Which one should you use?
Bonsoir is a greeting for the evening and not a way to say goodnight. Bonne nuit is only for leaving or going to sleep.
How do you pronounce it?
Bonne nuit sounds like "bun NWEE".
Did you know?
- Ma puce, literally "my flea", is a common pet name French speakers use for a small child.
Examples in context
- Bonne nuit, maman.Good night, mom.
- Dors bien, à demain!Sleep well, see you tomorrow!
- Bonne soirée, à lundi.Have a good evening, see you Monday.
Example conversation
Little Léa says goodnight to her dad Marc at bedtime in their house in Sherbrooke.
- LéaBonne nuit, papa.Good night, dad.
- MarcBonne nuit, ma puce. Dors bien.Good night, sweetie. Sleep well.
- LéaÀ demain!See you tomorrow!
