c'est bon
In French, the phrase for "something tastes good" is c'est bon.
c'est bon is used to express that a food or drink has a pleasant flavor. While c'est bon can mean "it is good" in many different contexts, when you use it while eating or drinking, it specifically refers to the taste of what you are consuming.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it is good".
Which one should you use?
c'est bon is a common, everyday way to say something tastes good. In contrast, c'est délicieux is more emphatic and slightly more formal. If you want to increase the intensity of the compliment, you can say c'est très bon to mean "it is very good".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that something "tasted good" in the past tense, use the imperfect form c'était bon.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say ça goûte bon by translating "it tastes good" literally. However, c'est bon is the natural way to express this in French.
Did you know?
- The word bon is a distant relative of the English word 'good' through their shared roots in the broader Indo-European language family.
- While c'est bon describes the flavor, using c'est bien to describe a meal suggests you are praising the chef's skill or behavior rather than the taste.
- If a meal is exceptionally excellent, a speaker might replace c'est bon with c'est un régal, treating the food as a literal 'treat' or 'delight'.
Examples in context
- C'est incroyablement délicieux.It's incredibly delicious.
- C'est absolument exquis.It's absolutely exquisite.
- C'est vraiment succulent.It's truly succulent.
- C'est bon, ce gâteau !This cake is good!
- Est-ce que c'est bon ?Is it good?
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are sharing a meal at a cafe.
- EmmaTu aimes ta soupe ?Do you like your soup?
- GabrielOui, c'est bon !Yes, it's good!
- EmmaC'est vrai, elle est délicieuse.It's true, it is delicious.
- GabrielJe vais en reprendre un peu.I am going to have a little more.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bon, c'est, CC BY-SA 4.0.
