bon voyage
/bɔ̃ vwa.jaʒ/
The English phrase "safe travel" is expressed in French as bon voyage.
bon voyage is a phrase used to wish someone a pleasant and secure journey. It is appropriate for both long-distance trips, such as flying or sailing and shorter trips, such as a weekend getaway.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective bon (good) and the noun voyage (journey/trip).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase bon voyage is an elliptical expression, which means it is a shortened version of a full sentence like Je vous souhaite un bon voyage (I wish you a good journey).
When do people say it?
When someone says bon voyage to you, a common and natural response is Merci ! (Thank you!). Other specific ways to wish someone well include Bon vol (Have a good flight), Bonne route (Safe travels, literally "good road") or Rentrez bien (Get home safely), which is specifically used when someone is returning from a trip.
Did you know?
- The word voyage is a linguistic sibling of the French word viatique, which refers to the final prayers and communion given to a dying person for their 'journey' into the afterlife.
Examples in context
- Bon voyage, reviens-nous vite.Safe travel, come back to us soon.
- Je te souhaite un bon voyage.I wish you a safe travel.
Example conversation
Nathan is seeing Chloé off at the train station.
- NathanLe train va bientôt arriver.The train will arrive soon.
- ChloéOui, je dois y aller.Yes, I have to go.
- NathanBon voyage, Chloé !Safe travel, Chloé!
- ChloéMerci, Nathan. À bientôt !Thank you, Nathan. See you soon!
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.
