Ah bon ?

Ah bon ?
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Essential French Expression

Meaning really?, I see
Literally oh good
Register informal
Pronunciation French sound files [ah bo(n)]
IPA   [a bɔ̃]

Usage notes: This is a useful French expression. Ah bon. If you haven’t heard it already, you soon will. Ah bon ? And then you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Ah bon !

Ah bon is an interjection / filler used to ask for confirmation or even just to acknowledge what was just said. Despite the word bon, it does not have any sort of positive connotation.

Par exemple…

– J’ai décidé de faire le tour du monde.
– Ah bon ?
  – I’ve decided to take a trip around the world.
– Really?
– Je n’ai pas payé la facture d’électricité en novembre.
– Ah bon.
  – I didn’t pay the electric bill in November.
– I see.

Somewhat synonymous

  • ça alors – how about that
  • c’est vrai ? – really?
  • d’accord – OK
  • je vois – I see

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Ah bon ?

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4 Responses

  1. Lynne Wilson 2 April 2017 / 16:52

    Been a great fan of your pages for years (since you wrote for ‘About’). Always recommend to my pupils and share loads on Facebook.

  2. Rodney 23 April 2016 / 21:39

    Bonjour, I really enjoy your email lessons. I am an absolute beginner at learning French and it is difficult but I will keep at it.
    Merci

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