passe une bonne journée
In French, "have a good one" is expressed as passe une bonne journée.
This phrase is used as a parting phrase to wish someone a good day.
Meaning: parting phrase (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase passe une bonne journée literally translates to "spend a good day".
Which one should you use?
While bonne journée is used during the day, use bonne soirée if you are parting with someone in the late afternoon or evening.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form passe une bonne journée uses the "tu" form and is appropriate for friends, family or peers. For a formal situation, you can use Passez une bonne journée or Profitez de votre journée, which means "Enjoy your day".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Quebec, Canada, the phrase Passe une belle journée is used to mean "Have a beautiful day".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase with a group of people or to be polite to a single person, change passe to passez to create passez une bonne journée.
Did you know?
- The word journée in this phrase is a descendant of the Vulgar Latin *diurnāta, which historically referred to the amount of work a person could accomplish in a single day.
- The word journée is a 'duration' noun, meaning it describes the time spent living through the day, whereas jour is used for counting dates on a calendar.
- While bonne journée is a wish for the future, the phrase bonne soirée begins as soon as the sun starts to set or the workday ends, even if it is still technically daylight.
Examples in context
- Merci pour cette réunion productive. Passez une bonne journée et à bientôt!Thank you for this productive meeting. Have a good day and see you soon!
- C'était génial de te voir. Passe une bonne journée et on se revoit bientôt!It was great seeing you. Have a good day, and we'll see each other soon!
- Merci, toi aussi, passe une bonne journée !Thanks, you too, have a good day!
- Merci, toi aussi, passe une bonne journée.Thanks, you too, have a good one.
- Allez, salut, passe une bonne journée.Alright, bye, have a good one.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are leaving a coffee shop.
- LéaSalut Lucas, à demain !Bye Lucas, see you tomorrow!
- LucasÇa marche, passe une bonne journée !Sounds good, have a good one!
- LéaMerci, toi aussi.Thanks, you too.
- LucasÀ plus tard.See you later.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries journée, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
