passe une bonne soirée
In French, "have a good evening" is translated as passe une bonne soirée.
This phrase is a polite greeting used to wish someone a pleasant time during the evening as you leave them.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, passe une bonne soirée means "spend a good evening". The verb passe is the imperative form of passer, which literally means 'to spend' (time) or 'to pass' in this context.
Which one should you use?
While bonsoir is a greeting used when arriving, bonne soirée is used when leaving to wish someone a pleasant continuation of their evening.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes from passe une bonne soirée to passez une bonne soirée when addressing a group of people or using the formal vous form.
Did you know?
- In French, the verb passer is used for spending time, but it also means 'to pass' an exam. A student might passer un examen in the same way they passent une soirée.
- The word soirée is used in the term soirée pyjama, which is the French equivalent of a 'slumber party'.
- The suffix -ée in soirée transforms the word from a point in time into a duration. While soir is the 'evening' as a time of day, soirée is the 'evening' as an event or experience.
Examples in context
- Merci, toi aussi ! Passe une bonne soirée.Thanks, you too! Have a good evening.
- Passe une bonne soirée !Have a good evening!
- Merci, toi aussi, passe une bonne soirée.Thanks, you too, have a good evening.
- Passe une bonne soirée avec tes amis.Have a good evening with your friends.
Example conversation
Hugo is leaving Léa's house after a visit.
- HugoJe vais y aller, Léa.I'm going to go now, Léa.
- LéaDéjà ? Passe une bonne soirée, Hugo !Already? Have a good evening, Hugo!
- HugoMerci, toi aussi !Thanks, you too!
- LéaÀ bientôt !See you soon!
