Good French Phrases
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The French word bon can be an adjective or noun and is found in many expressions. Learn how to say cheap, healthy, hearty eater, and more with this list of expressions with bon.
Proverbs with bon
| À bon chat bon rat. | Tit for tat. | |
| À quelque chose malheur est bon. | Every cloud has a silver lining. | |
| L’argent est un bon serviteur et un mauvais maître. | Money is a good servant but a bad master. | |
| Bon chien chasse de race. | Like father, like son. | |
| Bon sang ne saurait mentir. | What’s bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. | |
| Les bons comptes font les bons amis. | Bad debts make bad friends. | |
| L’enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions. | The road to hell is paved with good intentions. | |
| Pas de nouvelles, bonnes nouvelles. | No news is good news. |
Expressions with bon
| à la bonne franquette | informally, potluck | ||
| À quoi bon ? | What’s the use? | ||
| ah bon ? | oh yeah? I see | ||
| avoir bonne mine | to look healthy | ||
| avoir un bon fromage | to have a cushy job | ||
| Bon anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! | ||
| Bon appétit ! | Enjoy your meal! | ||
| bon après-midi | have a nice afternoon* | ||
| bon chic, bon genre | good style, good sort | ||
| Bon courage ! | all the best, keep up the good work | ||
| Bon débarras ! | good riddance! | ||
| bon dimanche | have a nice Sunday | ||
| bon gré mal gré | (whether you) like it or not | ||
| bonjour | (one word) | hello, good morning* | |
| bon matin | (Canada) | goog morning* | |
| un bon rapport qualité-prix | good value | ||
| bon retour | safe journey home | ||
| bonsoir | (one word) | good evening | |
| bon week-end | have a good weekend | ||
| Bonne Année ! | Happy New Year! | ||
| Bonne année et bonne santé ! | Happy New Year! | ||
| Bonne chance ! | Good luck! | ||
| Bonne fête ! | Happy [current holiday]! | ||
| bonne journée | have a nice day | ||
| bonne nuit | good night | ||
| bonne rentrée | best wishes for the new (school) year | ||
| bonne route | safe journey | ||
| bonne santé | stay well, keep healthy | ||
| bonne soirée | have a nice evening | ||
| bonnes vacances | enjoy your vacation | ||
| C’est bon que + subjunctive | It’s good that … | ||
| Il est bon que + subjunctive | It’s good that … | ||
| s’en tenir à bon compte | to get off easy | ||
* Fais gaffe ! Bon matin means "good morning" in Canada, but in France, you can only say bonjour.
Also, bon après-midi can only be used as a valediction (have a nice afternoon), not a greeting. Again, to say "good afternoon" upon meeting someone, say bonjour.
Good wishes
You can use bon in front of virtually any activity-related noun to wish someone well with it:
| bonne baignade | have a nice swim, enjoy your swim | |
| bon match | have a good game, enjoy the game | |
| bonne promenade | have a nice walk, enjoy your walk | |
| bon vélo | have a nice bike ride, enjoy your bike ride | |
| bon voyage | have a good trip, enjoy your trip | |
| etc. |
Adjective and adverb phrases with bon
| bon à rien | good for nothing | |
| bon enfant | friendly, good-natured | |
| bon gré mal gré | (whether you) like it or not | |
| bon marché | inexpensive, cheap | |
| de bon cœur | heartily | |
| de bon gré | willingly | |
| de bon matin | bright and early | |
| en bon état | in good condition | |
| pour de bon | for good, definitively; really, truly |
Compound nouns with bon
| une bête à bon dieu | ladybug | ||
| un bon à tirer | corrected proof | ||
| un bon à vue | demand note | ||
| un bon d’achat | gift certificate | ||
| un bon de caisse | cash voucher | ||
| un bon de commande | order form | ||
| un bon d’épargne | savings certificate | ||
| un bon de garantie | guarantee | ||
| un bon de livraison | delivery slip | ||
| un bon de réduction | coupon | ||
| un bon du Trésor | Treasury bond | ||
| une bonne fourchette | hearty eater | ||
| une bonne pâte | easy-going person | ||
| une bonne sœur | (informal) | nun | |
| un bon vivant | person who appreciates the good things in life | ||
Doubly good expressions 😉
| un bonbon | piece of candy, (UK) sweet, sweetie | ||
| un bonbon acidulé | acid drop | ||
| un bonbon balsamique | ~ cough drop | ||
| un bonbon à la menthe | mint | ||
| un bonbon anglais | fruit drop | ||
| un bonbon au chocolat | piece of chocolate | ||
| un bonbon au miel | honey drop | ||
| un bonbon fondant | fondant candy | ||
| un bonbon fourré | piece of candy with soft center | ||
| coûter bonbon | (informal) | to be very expensive | |
| rose bonbon | candy pink | ||
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