Learning to say good night in French can be of great use to greet people while giving a night-time good-bye, and it will also help you deepen your knowledge of the language. It is one of the most common polite greetings that we often use and hear every day. The use of good night in the French language is similar to that in English; the only thing that matters is correct pronunciation and the expression used.
Whether you are giving a night-time send-off to a francophone friend or saying goodbye after a long night out in Paris, learning how to say good night in French is crucial. With this learning guide, we aim to help you learn to say good night in French using common expressions and unusual ways.
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Greeting people before going to sleep is one of the most common ways to show courtesy. The term "goodnight" is used in various contexts; however, it is intended to give a polite night-time farewell.
For learners, just as learning how to say good morning in French and what we say good afternoon in French is important, it is also essential to learn how to say 'goodnight', as it is one of the basic and primary topics to cover.
Here are the common phrases that you should learn to greet goodnight.
Starting with the most basic and easiest way to say goodnight is to use "bonne nuit". This phrase is not about being formal and informal; it goes with every context. The pronunciation of good night in French is "bun nwee", as the bonne part sounds like "bun" and the nuit part sounds like "nwee".
While it is the most basic way to say good night in French language, you can use it on your own with the help of its alternatives. Common forms of "bonne nuit" include:
You can also learn how to say good night in French without even using it, yes, you read it right, "Dors bien" is the commonly used informal expression meaning "sleep well". However, you can even use it formally or to address a bunch of individuals.
Dors bien
Dormez Bien
An expressive way to greet someone good night in French is "Fais de beaux rêves", meaning "sweet dreams". However, it also has a plural/ formal version, which goes like "Faites de beaux rêves".
Fais de beaux rêves
Faites de beaux rêves
With the above section, you have discovered the common expressions and pronunciation of good night in French. Now, let's explore a few specific phrases often used to gently encourage children to go to sleep at night.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| C’est l’heure d’aller au lit. | It’s time to go to bed. |
| Il est tard. | It’s late. |
| Il se fait tard. | It’s getting late. |
| Il faut aller faire dodo. | You must go to sleep. |
| Le marchand de sable va passer. | The Sandman is about to come by. |
These expressions are generally more convincing than basic good night and sleep well phrases.
As you learn French, only using "bonne nuit" or other formal expressions to say good night may seem boring to some of you. Learning a new language is exciting, and we often look for inventive and unique ways to make the learning journey even more compelling. Here are some unusual ways to say good night in French language in place of formal expressions.
| French Phrase | English Translation |
|---|---|
| éteins le lumière | Turn off the light |
| va mettre ton pyjama | Put on your pyjamas |
| c’est l’heure d’aller se coucher | It’s time to go to bed |
| je vais me coucher | I am going to bed |
| que ta nuit soit aussi bonne que moi | May your night be as good as I am |
| dormez bien, n'oubliez pas de fermer les yeux | Sleep tight, remember to close your eyes |
While you explore how to say good night in French, it’s also helpful to learn some sleep-related expressions. These phrases are not to greet good night, but are closely related to sleep and can be useful in various contexts.
1. Avoir sommeil
2. Être fatigué.e
3. Dormir debout
4. Compter les moutons
5. Dormir comme un bébé
6. Dormir comme un loir
7. Dormir comme un ange
8. Dormir comme une marmotte
9. Être/Tomber dans les bras de Morphée
10. Dormir sur ses deux oreilles
To wrap up, learning to say good night in French is a gateway to discovering various phrases and words that overall help to build language skills and cultural understanding.
You can use a simple "bonne nuit", or a more informal "Fais de beaux rêves", or any unusual way to say good night in French. The vast vocabulary allows you to tailor your night greeting according to any context. Practice these phrases regularly, and soon you'll be saying goodnight like a francophone person.
If this writing piece has added some value in your learning journey, comment thank you in French. We'd love to know your current language understanding.
The most common and formal way to say good night in French is "Bonne nuit". It is the universal expression used by natives to greet someone at night.
Yes, "Bonne nuit, mon amour" is a romantic phrase that translates to "good night, my love" in French. The phrase is commonly used among French partners to express affection before sleep.
If someone says you "bonne nuit" (Good Night), you can simply respond with "bonne nuit". Further, you can also add "toi aussi" (you too) for an expressive response.
To say "goodnight, have sweet dreams in French", you just have to use "Bonne nuit, fais de beaux rêves". "Bonne nuit" is a basic term translated to "Good night", and "fais de beaux rêves" translates to "have sweet dreams".
No, 'good evening' and 'good night' are not the same in French. Good Evening is translated to "bonsoir", while good night is translated to "bonne nuit". The key difference between the two is that "bonne nuit" is specifically used to greet someone when they are going to bed, while "bonsoir" is used in the Evening, during meetings or interactions.
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