Celebratory French Expression
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| Meaning | Happy (holiday)! Happy (name) day! Happy birthday! | |
| 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
In Canada and Louisiana, bonne fête typically means "happy birthday."
Synonyms (in North America)
Related features
- Age and Birthdays
- Celebratory expressions
- Expressions with bon
- Holidays and celebrations
- Souffler ses bougies
Useful verb conjugations
Gifts for French lovers
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