Today’s lesson focuses on how to use the common French greeting bonsoir (pronunciation bɔ̃swaʀ), which means both “good evening” and “good night”. It may be used in the context of “hi” and “bye” after about 6pm.
bonsoir
good evening, good night
Example sentences
For this first sentence, bonsoir is being used in the context of “hello” during the evening hours.
Bonsoir à tous et bienvenue chez nous !
Good evening everybody and welcome to our home!
For this second sentence, bonsoir is being used in the context of saying goodbye or parting ways. The reflexive verb se reposer means “to rest”. However, for this example sentence I took the liberty to use the translation “sleep well”.
Bonsoir ! Reposez-vous bien et à demain !
Good night! Sleep well and see you tomorrow.
This final sentence uses the feminine noun soirée, when also translates to “evening” or “the course of the evening”. A related word is la journée (day, course of the day).
Je vous souhaite une bonne soirée !
I wish you a good evening!
Related lessons
- Bonne nuit – good night
- 30 most common French greetings
- Chez – At the home of
- Journée – day
- Bienvenue – welcome
- Demain – tomorrow
