Dents du bonheur – Dents de la chance

Dents du bonheur de Vanessa Paradis Photo: Georges Biard [CC-BY-SA-3.0] via Wikimedia Commons Cropped and resized by LKL

French Expressions

Meaning	gap between front teeth, diastema
Literally	lucky teeth
Register	normal
Pronunciation	IPA	[da(n) du buh neur] [dã dy bɔ nœʁ]
	IPA	[da(n) deu lah sha(n)s] [dã də la ʃãs]

Usage notes: If you have a gap between your front teeth, you’re in luck – at least according to the French. They call the teeth on either side of a gap dents du bonheur or dents de la chance.

While many cultures consider the gap unattractive and something to be fixed, chez les Français it’s fashionable and alluring.

• À qui sont ces “dents de la chance” ? (L’Express)
• Souriez, vos dents du bonheur sont à la mode ! (Le Parisien)

 Lucky French Expressions

• Avoir du pot
• Bonne chance

Related Lessons

• Parts of the body
• Dentist
• De vs du

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