Wishing People Well on Holidays and Special Occasions
10.1.1. The Main Idea
To wish someone well in French, you can use expressions such as joyeux, bonne, bon, and meilleurs vœux.
Joyeux Noël ! | Merry Christmas! |
Bonne année ! | Happy New Year! |
Bon anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! |
Bonnes fêtes ! | Happy holidays! |
These expressions change depending on the holiday or occasion.
10.1.2. Joyeux / Joyeuse
Use joyeux or joyeuse with some holidays and celebrations.
Joyeux Noël ! | Merry Christmas! |
Joyeux anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! |
Joyeuse Saint-Valentin ! | Happy Valentine’s Day! |
Joyeuses Pâques ! | Happy Easter! |
Joyeux is masculine.Joyeuse is feminine.Joyeuses is feminine plural.
10.1.3. Bon / Bonne / Bonnes
Use bon, bonne, or bonnes to wish someone a good day, evening, year, or celebration.
Bonne année ! | Happy New Year! |
Bonne fête ! | Happy birthday! / Happy name day! depending on context |
Bonnes fêtes ! | Happy holidays! |
Bon week-end ! | Have a good weekend! |
Bonne journée ! | Have a good day! |
Bonne soirée ! | Have a good evening! |
Bon voyage ! | Have a good trip! |
Bon courage ! | Good luck! / Hang in there! |
10.1.4. Special Occasions
Félicitations ! | Congratulations! |
Bravo ! | Well done! |
Tous mes vœux de bonheur ! | Wishing you every happiness! |
Meilleurs vœux ! | Best wishes! |
Bonne chance ! | Good luck! |
Prompt rétablissement ! | Get well soon! |
Repose-toi bien. | Rest well. informal |
Reposez-vous bien. | Rest well. formal or plural |
10.1.5. Common Holidays and Greetings
Noël | Christmas |
Joyeux Noël ! | Merry Christmas! |
le Nouvel An | New Year |
Bonne année ! | Happy New Year! |
Pâques | Easter |
Joyeuses Pâques ! | Happy Easter! |
la Saint-Valentin | Valentine’s Day |
Joyeuse Saint-Valentin ! | Happy Valentine’s Day! |
la fête nationale | National Day |
Bonne fête nationale ! | Happy National Day! |
l’anniversaire | birthday |
Bon anniversaire ! | Happy birthday! |
10.1.6. Responding to Good Wishes
Merci ! | Thank you! |
Merci, toi aussi ! | Thanks, you too! informal |
Merci, vous aussi ! | Thanks, you too! formal or plural |
À toi aussi ! | Same to you! informal |
À vous aussi ! | Same to you! formal or plural |
C’est gentil, merci. | That’s kind, thank you. |
10.1.7. Asking About Holidays
Tu fêtes Noël ? | Do you celebrate Christmas? |
Vous fêtez Noël ? | Do you celebrate Christmas? formal or plural |
Tu fais quoi pour le Nouvel An ? | What are you doing for New Year’s? |
Vous faites quoi pour les fêtes ? | What are you doing for the holidays? |
Tu vas où pour les vacances ? | Where are you going for the vacation? |
10.1.8. Talking About Plans
Je fête Noël avec ma famille. | I celebrate Christmas with my family. |
Je passe le Nouvel An avec des amis. | I spend New Year’s with friends. |
Je vais rendre visite à ma famille. | I am going to visit my family. |
Je vais rester à la maison. | I am going to stay home. |
Je vais voyager. | I am going to travel. |
10.1.9. Core Patterns
Joyeux / Joyeuse + holiday | Happy / Merry ___ |
Bon / Bonne / Bonnes + noun | Have a good ___ / Happy ___ |
Félicitations ! | Congratulations! |
Meilleurs vœux ! | Best wishes! |
Merci, toi aussi ! | Thanks, you too! |
Tu fêtes ___ ? | Do you celebrate ___? |
Je fête ___ avec ___ . | I celebrate ___ with ___. |
10.1.10. Practice
Merry Christmas! |
Happy New Year! |
Happy birthday! |
Happy Easter! |
Happy holidays! |
Congratulations! |
Good luck! |
Thanks, you too! informal |
Do you celebrate Christmas? informal |
I celebrate Christmas with my family. |
10.1.11. Answers
Merry Christmas! | Joyeux Noël ! |
Happy New Year! | Bonne année ! |
Happy birthday! | Bon anniversaire ! / Joyeux anniversaire ! |
Happy Easter! | Joyeuses Pâques ! |
Happy holidays! | Bonnes fêtes ! |
Congratulations! | Félicitations ! |
Good luck! | Bonne chance ! |
Thanks, you too! informal | Merci, toi aussi ! |
Do you celebrate Christmas? informal | Tu fêtes Noël ? |
I celebrate Christmas with my family. | Je fête Noël avec ma famille. |
10.1.12. Short Dialogue
A : Joyeux Noël ! | A: Merry Christmas! |
B : Merci, toi aussi ! Tu fêtes Noël avec ta famille ? | B: Thanks, you too! Are you celebrating Christmas with your family? |
A : Oui, je fête Noël avec ma famille. Et toi ? | A: Yes, I celebrate Christmas with my family. And you? |
B : Moi, je vais rester à la maison. | B: I am going to stay home. |
10.1.13. Checkpoint
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to wish people well on holidays and special occasions, use expressions such as Joyeux Noël, Bonne année, Bon anniversaire, Félicitations, and Meilleurs vœux, and respond politely to good wishes.
10.1.14. Try It Out
Try saying this in French:
Merry Christmas!
Thanks, you too!
Possible answer:
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