Bonne nuit
/bɔn nɥi/
To say "have a good night" in French, use Bonne nuit.
Bonne nuit is a phrase used to wish someone a restful sleep when they are going to bed. In French, it is almost exclusively used when the speaker or the listener is actually going to bed or retiring for the night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the feminine adjective bonne (good) and the feminine noun nuit (night).
Which one should you use?
Use Bonne soirée to wish someone a good evening when they are leaving a social event or a restaurant, whereas Bonne nuit is used specifically when someone is going to sleep.
How do you pronounce it?
/bɔn nɥi/
Did you know?
- While Bonne nuit is for sleep, French has a specific term faire une nuit blanche meaning 'to have a white night' when someone stays awake all night.
- In some French regions, children are told Fais dodo instead of Bonne nuit to coax them to sleep, using a baby-talk version of the verb 'dormir'.
- French speakers often pair Bonne nuit with Fais de beaux rêves, which means 'make some beautiful dreams'.
Examples in context
- Bonne nuit, tout le monde.Good night, everyone.
- Je vais me coucher, bonne nuit !I'm going to bed, good night!
- Bonne nuit, fais de beaux rêves.Good night, sweet dreams.
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are saying goodbye before going to their separate rooms to sleep.
- NathanJe suis très fatigué ce soir.I am very tired tonight.
- LéaMoi aussi, bonne nuit, Nathan.Me too, good night, Nathan.
- NathanBonne nuit, Léa.Good night, Léa.
- LéaÀ demain !See you tomorrow!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry bonne nuit.
