bon voyage
/bɔ̃ vwa.jaʒ/
The English phrase "have a good journey" is translated into French as bon voyage.
Bon voyage is used to wish someone a pleasant trip when they are leaving.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a literal combination of the adjective bon (good) and the noun voyage (journey/trip).
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike the English version which uses a verb phrase, the French version is a noun phrase used as an exclamation.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔ̃ vwa.jaʒ/
Did you know?
- In French, bon voyage can be used sarcastically to tell someone who is leaving that they are not welcome back or are heading for trouble.
- While English speakers use 'bon voyage' for any trip, French speakers may use bonne route specifically if the person is traveling by car.
- The word voyage shares a distant root with the Latin word viāticum, which referred to the money or provisions carried by a traveler for their journey.
Examples in context
- Bon voyage et profitez de votre voyage en France!Have a good journey and enjoy your trip to France!
- Bon voyage et ramène-nous plein d'histoires!Have a good journey and bring back lots of stories!
- Bon voyage !Have a good journey!
- Je vous souhaite un bon voyage.I wish you a good journey.
- Allez-y, et bon voyage !Go ahead, and have a good journey!
Example conversation
Manon is leaving for a vacation at the train station.
- GabrielTu pars déjà, Manon ?Are you leaving already, Manon?
- ManonOui, mon train part dans dix minutes.Yes, my train leaves in ten minutes.
- GabrielD'accord, bon voyage !Okay, have a good journey!
- ManonMerci beaucoup, Gabriel !Thank you very much, Gabriel!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bon voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bon, voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
