mon bonheur
The English phrase 'my happiness' is translated into French as mon bonheur.
mon bonheur refers to the state of being happy or the feeling of contentment experienced by a person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the possessive adjective mon (my) and the masculine noun bonheur (happiness).
Which one should you use?
While bonheur refers to a state of being or long-term contentment, the related form ma joie (my joy) is often used for a more immediate, intense burst of happiness.
When do people say it?
If you want to express that you are extremely happy in an informal way, you can use the idiomatic expression Je suis aux anges, which means 'I am over the moon'.
Did you know?
- While 'happiness' is a single word in English, the French word bonheur contains the ancient root heur, which is the ancestor of the English word 'hap', found in 'perhaps' or 'mishap'.
- In French, bonheur can be used as a term of endearment, similar to calling a partner 'my sweetheart' or 'my joy'.
- French speakers may use mon bonheur in the plural mes bonheurs to refer to the small, specific things in life that bring them joy.
Examples in context
- Mon bonheur a été fugace.My happiness was fleeting.This sentence is useful for describing the fleeting nature of mon bonheur.Tatoeba #12917456 by lbdx, translation #11531373 by Nuel
- Mon bonheur, c'est à toi que je le dois.My happiness, I owe it to you.This sentence is useful for expressing that one owes mon bonheur to someone else.Tatoeba #7467249 by felix63, translation #8354964 by marioo
- Mon bonheur dépend de toi.My happiness depends on you.This sentence is useful for stating that mon bonheur is dependent on someone else.Tatoeba #1189529 by rene1596, translation #250858 by CM
- Je suis aux anges d'avoir réussi mes examens.I am over the moon to have passed my exams.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are talking about their new life together.
- LéaJe suis enfin heureuse avec toi.I am finally happy with you.
- GabrielMoi aussi, Léa. Je t'aime.Me too, Léa. I love you.
- LéaTu es tout mon bonheur.You are all my happiness.
- GabrielEt toi pour moi, Gabriel.And you for me, Gabriel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonheur, mon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
