Bon Expressions

Good French Phrases

French expressions with bon
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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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Bon - French expressions

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