Iggy takes her coffee to go from a barista, and says, “Bonne journée!” before leaving.

On the journey of learning the beautiful French language, one of the most delightful phrases to learn is how to wish someone a good day. It's a universal sentiment — a kind-hearted wish that sets a positive tone for the day ahead. This phrase gains an extra layer of charm in French, given the language's renowned elegance and romantic allure.

This article will guide you through saying "Have a good day" in French, along with some alternative ways to extend your well-wishes. We'll provide examples and contextual explanations to help you sound like a true Francophone. So, get ready to add a touch of French sophistication to your daily greetings!

Bonne Journée — Most Common Way to Wish Someone a Good Day in French

The most commonly used French phrase to wish someone a good day is Bonne journée, which literally translates to "good day."

French

English

Bonne journée.

Good day.

This phrase is simple yet effective and can be used in any setting, whether formal or informal. It's perfect for friends, family members, colleagues, or even strangers you interact with during the day.

Soren enters a flower shop, taking his hat off, saying, “Bonne journée à toi.” to Pocky, who works there as a florist.

You can also add à toi or à vous at the end of the phrase, which means "to you," in order to use this phrase with people you are familiar with. For instance:

French

English

Bonne journée à toi.

Good day to you.

Other Variations of Saying Bonne Journée

Benji is a professor at university ending a lecture, saying “Bonne journée et à bientôt.” to his students in the auditorium.

Aside from the standard Bonne journée, native speakers might use these other variations to wish someone a good day in French:

French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Passe une bonne journée. Have a nice day. This phrase is more informal, and it can also roughly translate to "Enjoy your day." It's commonly used among friends or when speaking to someone younger.
Que ta journée soit belle. May your day be beautiful. This is a poetic way of saying "Have a good day" that conveys the idea of wishing someone happiness and joy throughout their day.
Je te souhaite une bonne journée. I wish you a good day. Yet another, more formal variation, which can be used in professional settings, such as with coworkers or business partners.
Bonne journée et à bientôt. Have a good day and see you soon. This phrase is useful when saying goodbye to someone for the day. You can use it with friends or acquaintances that you will see again in the future.
French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Passe une bonne journée. Have a nice day. This phrase is more informal, and it can also roughly translate to "Enjoy your day." It's commonly used among friends or when speaking to someone younger.
Que ta journée soit belle. May your day be beautiful. This is a poetic way of saying "Have a good day" that conveys the idea of wishing someone happiness and joy throughout their day.
Je te souhaite une bonne journée. I wish you a good day. Yet another, more formal variation, which can be used in professional settings, such as with coworkers or business partners.
Bonne journée et à bientôt. Have a good day and see you soon. This phrase is useful when saying goodbye to someone for the day. You can use it with friends or acquaintances that you will see again in the future.

Alternative Ways to Wish Someone a Nice Day in French

Pocky ends an online meeting with Soren, Iggy, and Benji, saying, “Bonne journée à tous.” to them.

While Bonne journée and its variations are the most common ways to wish someone a good day, there are some other phrases you can use to extend your well-wishes. Here are a few ways you can incorporate them into your French vocab:

French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Bonne continuation. Keep it up! This phrase can also be used in the meaning of "Have a nice day ahead." It's used when saying goodbye to someone that you won't see for a while, such as when parting ways at a train station or airport.
Bonne journée à tous. Have a good day, everyone. This is an inclusive way of wishing everyone a good day and is perfect for group settings.
Profitez bien de votre journée. Enjoy your day. This phrase can be used in formal context as well as casual settings. It's a great way to wish someone a fulfilling and enjoyable day.
Bonne journée et bon courage. Have a good day and good luck. Used when wishing someone strength and perseverance for the day ahead, it's perfect for encouraging someone who may have a challenging day ahead.
French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Bonne continuation. Keep it up! This phrase can also be used in the meaning of "Have a nice day ahead." It's used when saying goodbye to someone that you won't see for a while, such as when parting ways at a train station or airport.
Bonne journée à tous. Have a good day, everyone. This is an inclusive way of wishing everyone a good day and is perfect for group settings.
Profitez bien de votre journée. Enjoy your day. This phrase can be used in formal context as well as casual settings. It's a great way to wish someone a fulfilling and enjoyable day.
Bonne journée et bon courage. Have a good day and good luck. Used when wishing someone strength and perseverance for the day ahead, it's perfect for encouraging someone who may have a challenging day ahead.

Finally, here’s a quick reminder of basic French greetings to ensure you have all parts of the day covered:

French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Bonjour! Good morning! A go-to French greeting in the morning.
Bonne après midi. Have a nice afternoon. If you want to wish someone a good afternoon, you can use this phrase.
Bonne soirée. Have a nice evening. Use this phrase to wish someone a good evening.
French PhraseEnglish TranslationExplanation
Bonjour! Good morning! A go-to French greeting in the morning.
Bonne après midi. Have a nice afternoon. If you want to wish someone a good afternoon, you can use this phrase.
Bonne soirée. Have a nice evening. Use this phrase to wish someone a good evening.

Takeaway

It’s the end of the day in the office. Soren and Pocky are saying goodbye to each other, Soren says, “Bonne soirée!”

Wishing someone a good day in French is a thoughtful gesture that can brighten up anyone's day. By learning how to say Bonne journée and its numerous variations, along with other ways to wish someone a nice day, you'll be able to spread positivity and charm in your daily interactions.

So, go ahead and download our Langster app to practice these phrases in context, and may you have a good day, too — or should we say, Bonne journée!

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Ellis

Ellis is a seasoned polyglot and one of the creative minds behind Langster Blog, where she shares effective language learning strategies and insights from her own journey mastering the four languages. Ellis strives to empower learners globally to embrace new languages with confidence and curiosity. Off the blog, she immerses herself in exploring diverse cultures through cinema and contemporary fiction, further fueling her passion for language and connection.