fais de beaux rêves
/fɛ d(ə) bo ʁɛv/
In French, the phrase for "sweet dream" is fais de beaux rêves.
The phrase is used to wish someone a peaceful night of sleep. While it specifically wishes someone pleasant dreams, the more common and general way to say "good night" is bonne nuit.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, fais de beaux rêves means "make some beautiful dreams".
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on who you are addressing. fais de beaux rêves is the informal version used with friends, family or children. For a more polite or formal tone, use Faites de beaux rêves, which means "Have beautiful dreams".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Canadian French, the shortened Beaux rêves is more commonly used. Additionally, the phrase Bonne nuit et beaux rêves is frequently used in some areas of France and Quebec.
How does it change in a sentence?
When speaking to more than one person or using the formal vous, you must use faites de beaux rêves instead of fais.
How do you pronounce it?
/fɛ d(ə) bo ʁɛv/
Did you know?
- In France, fais de beaux rêves is almost exclusively reserved for children or romantic partners. Using it with a casual adult friend might be seen as overly intimate or infantalizing.
- The verb faire in fais de beaux rêves suggests that the dreamer is actively constructing or creating their dreams, rather than passively receiving them as one 'has' a dream in English.
- The word rêves shares a common ancestor with the English word 'reverie'. Both words trace back to the idea of wandering or drifting through thoughts.
Examples in context
- Passez une bonne nuit et faites de beaux rêves, Sophie. À demain!Have a good night and sweet dreams, Sophie. See you tomorrow!
- Fais de beaux rêves, mon petit chéri. Bonne nuit!Have beautiful dreams, my little darling. Good night!
- Je vous souhaite une nuit paisible et remplie de rêves enchantés. À bientôt.I wish you a peaceful night filled with enchanting dreams. See you soon.
- Bonne nuit, fais de beaux rêves.Good night, sweet dreams.
- Dors bien et fais de beaux rêves.Sleep well and sweet dreams.
- Allez, file au lit et fais de beaux rêves.Go on, get to bed and sweet dreams.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodnight before going to sleep.
- HugoBonne nuit, Emma.Good night, Emma.
- EmmaMerci Hugo, fais de beaux rêves toi aussi.Thanks Hugo, sweet dreams to you too.
- HugoMerci, à demain.Thanks, see you tomorrow.
- EmmaÀ demain.See you tomorrow.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry fais de beaux rêves, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
