bonne nuit mon cher
The English phrase "good night my dear" is translated into French as bonne nuit mon cher.
This phrase is a fond way to say goodbye to a loved one before they go to sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of bonne (good), nuit (night), mon (my) and cher (dear).
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the feminine form bonne nuit ma chère instead of bonne nuit mon cher if you are addressing a woman.
Did you know?
- While cher means 'dear' in a fond sense, it is also the standard French word for 'expensive'.
- In French, bonne nuit is strictly for when someone is actually going to sleep, whereas bonsoir is used for any greeting or farewell after dark.
- The word cher shares a common ancestor with the English word 'charity', as both stem from an ancient root meaning 'to love' or 'to desire'.
Examples in context
- Bonne nuit mon cher, fais de beaux rêves.Good night my dear, sweet dreams.
- Bonne nuit mon cher, à demain matin.Good night my dear, see you tomorrow morning.
Example conversation
Manon is saying good night to Nathan in their bedroom.
- ManonTu es fatigué, n'est-ce pas ?You are tired, aren't you?
- NathanOui, je vais me coucher.Yes, I am going to bed.
- ManonD'accord, bonne nuit mon cher.Alright, good night my dear.
- NathanBonne nuit à toi aussi, Manon.Good night to you too, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cher, mon, nuit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
