Bonne fête !

Celebratory French Expression

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Meaning	Happy birthday! Happy (name) day!
Literally	Good holiday!
Register	normal
Pronunciation		[buhn feht]
IPA		[bɔn fɛt]

Usage notes: Bonne fête traditionally means "happy (name) day," in reference to Saint’s days, also known as Feast days. For example, Saint Laura’s feast day is 19 October, so on that day someone might say bonne fête to me.

Bonne fête is also used as a generic holiday wish, such as for Bastille Day or another holiday like Mother’s Day, Assumption, etc.

French holiday expressions

• Bonne Année
• Joyeuses fêtes
• Joyeux Noël
• Meilleurs vœux

 In Canada, bonne fête typically means "happy birthday."

Synonyms (in Canada)

• Bon anniversaire
• Joyeux anniversaire

Related lessons

• Age and Birthdays
• Souffler ses bougies

Gifts for French lovers

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