Bon voyage
/bɔ̃ vwa.jaʒ/
In French, "have a nice trip" is expressed as Bon voyage.
Bon voyage is used to wish someone a pleasant journey. It is the most common and versatile way to express this sentiment in both formal and informal settings.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective bon (good) and the noun voyage (journey/trip).
Did you know?
- French has a specific word viatique, a doublet of voyage, which now refers to the final prayers and communion given to a dying person for their 'journey' into the afterlife.
- In French, you might hear someone say Bonne route instead of Bon voyage if the person is specifically driving a car.
- If someone is leaving for a very short trip, a French speaker might say Bon week-end or Bon séjour instead of Bon voyage to avoid sounding overly dramatic.
Examples in context
- Fais bon voyage !Have a nice trip.Tatoeba #1763116 by sacredceltic, translation #1877606 by CK
- Faites un bon voyage !Have a nice trip!Tatoeba #9396 by sacredceltic, translation #339238 by nickyeow
- Emilie, bon voyage! Rapporte-nous plein de souvenirs!Emilie, have a great trip! Bring back lots of memories!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa is at the airport leaving for a vacation.
- HugoTu pars enfin en vacances ?Are you finally leaving on vacation?
- LéaOui, je pars ce soir.Yes, I am leaving this evening.
- HugoBon voyage, Léa !Have a nice trip, Léa!
- LéaMerci beaucoup, Hugo !Thank you very much, Hugo!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry bon voyage.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bon, voyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
