Bonne Chance! Your Guide to Well-Wishing in French

People love to offer well-wishes, especially when someone starts something new or faces a challenge. Saying bonne chance in French means more than just wishing luck; it connects you with the culture and adds warmth to your words. You can find many other phrases for well-wishing that express care and support in special ways. Curious about how to use them to speak from the heart? Read our guide to learn more.

Basic Phrases for Good Luck in French

In France, a few essential words help you wish good luck in a warm way. These expressions not only offer support but also show care and understanding. Learn them to connect on a personal level when someone faces a new task or challenge:

• Bonne chance [bɔn ʃɑ̃s] – Good luck. A basic way to wish luck.

Bonne chance pour ton examen! [bɔn ʃɑ̃s puʁ tɔ̃ ɛgzamen] – Good luck for your exam!

• Bon courage [bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ] – Stay strong. Encourages someone facing difficulty.

Bon courage pour ton travail. [bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ puʁ tɔ̃ tʁavaj] – Stay strong for your work.

• Fais de ton mieux [fɛ də tɔ̃ mjø] – Do your best. Shows support for someone’s effort.

Fais de ton mieux demain. [fɛ də tɔ̃ mjø dəmɛ̃] – Do your best tomorrow.

• Je croise les doigts [ʒə kʁwaz le dwa] – I’m crossing my fingers. A casual way to wish good luck.

Je croise les doigts pour toi! [ʒə kʁwaz le dwa puʁ twa] – I’m crossing my fingers for you!

• Bonne continuation [bɔn kɔ̃tinɥasjɔ̃] – Keep up the good work. Encourages someone to keep going.

Bonne continuation dans tes études. [bɔn kɔ̃tinɥasjɔ̃ dɑ̃ tez etyd] – Keep up the good work with your studies.

• Tous mes vœux de réussite [tu mɛ vø də ʁeɥsit] – Wishing you success. A formal way to express hope for success.

Tous mes vœux de réussite pour ton projet. [tu mɛ vø də ʁeɥsit puʁ tɔ̃ pʁɔʒɛ] – Wishing you success with your project.

• Bravo [bʁavo] – Well done. Used to congratulate someone.

Bravo pour ton succès! [bʁavo puʁ tɔ̃ syksɛ] – Well done on your success!

Best Wishes in French: Formal vs. Informal Expressions

When speaking French, the way you say "best wishes" can change based on who you talk to. Formal phrases might suit work or new acquaintances, while informal ones might fit friends and family better. Check the different expressions below to add the right touch for each situation:

• Tous mes vœux [tu mɛ vø] – Best wishes. Polite and versatile for most formal settings.

Tous mes vœux de bonheur. [tu mɛ vø də bɔnœʁ] – Best wishes for happiness.

• Je vous souhaite beaucoup de succès [ʒə vu swɛt boku də syksɛ] – I wish you much success. Formal for professional or new contacts.

Je vous souhaite beaucoup de succès dans votre carrière. [ʒə vu swɛt boku də syksɛ dɑ̃ vɔtʁ kaʁjɛʁ] – I wish you much success in your career.

• Mes meilleurs vœux pour l’avenir [mɛ mɛjœʁ vø puʁ lavniʁ] – My best wishes for the future. Suitable for formal occasions or milestones.

Mes meilleurs vœux pour l’avenir. [mɛ mɛjœʁ vø puʁ lavniʁ] – My best wishes for the future.

• Je vous adresse mes sincères félicitations [ʒə vu adʁɛs mɛ sɛ̃sɛʁ felisitasjɔ̃] – I send you my sincere congratulations. Formal and respectful for special achievements.

Je vous adresse mes sincères félicitations pour votre promotion. [ʒə vu adʁɛs mɛ sɛ̃sɛʁ felisitasjɔ̃ puʁ vɔtʁ pʁɔmosjɔ̃] – I send you my sincere congratulations on your promotion.

• Bonne continuation [bɔn kɔ̃tinɥasjɔ̃] – Keep it up. Encouraging, used with friends or close colleagues.

Bonne continuation dans tes projets! [bɔn kɔ̃tinɥasjɔ̃ dɑ̃ te pʁɔʒɛ] – Keep it up with your projects!

• Je te souhaite plein de bonheur [ʒə tə swɛt plɛ̃ də bɔnœʁ] – I wish you lots of happiness. Informal, friendly, and caring.

Je te souhaite plein de bonheur pour ton mariage. [ʒə tə swɛt plɛ̃ də bɔnœʁ puʁ tɔ̃ maʁjaʒ] – I wish you lots of happiness for your wedding.

• Bravo à toi [bʁavo a twa] – Well done to you. Informal and direct, used among friends.

Bravo à toi pour ce succès! [bʁavo a twa puʁ sə syksɛ] – Well done to you for this success!

• Félicitations [felisitasjɔ̃] – Congratulations. Casual, suitable for friends or family.

Félicitations pour ton diplôme! [felisitasjɔ̃ puʁ tɔ̃ diplom] – Congratulations on your diploma!

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French Slang Phrases

French slang adds a fun touch to your well-wishes. Explore some everyday expressions that capture this friendly spirit:

• Je te dis merde [ʒə tə di mɛʁd] – Break a leg. A common way to wish good luck without directly saying it.

Je te dis merde pour ton exam! [ʒə tə di mɛʁd puʁ tɔ̃ ɛgzɑ̃] – Break a leg for your exam!

• Vas-y! [vaz-i] – Go for it! Casual and motivating, encouraging someone to take action.

Vas-y, tu peux le faire! [vaz-i ty pø lə fɛʁ] – Go for it, you can do it!

• Courage, vieux [kuʁaʒ vjø] – Hang in there, buddy. A friendly way to show support in tough situations.

Courage, vieux, ça va aller. [kuʁaʒ vjø sa va ale] – Hang in there, buddy, it’s going to be okay.

• Pète un coup [pɛt œ̃ ku] – Relax. A humorous way to tell someone to chill and not stress.

Pète un coup, ça va bien se passer! [pɛt œ̃ ku sa va bjɛ̃ sə pase] – Relax, it’s going to be fine!

• Tiens bon [tjɛ̃ bɔ̃] – Hang in there. Casual but motivating, used to encourage perseverance.

Tiens bon, tu vas y arriver! [tjɛ̃ bɔ̃ ty va i aʁive] – Hang in there; you’ll get there!

• File-moi cinq! [fil mwa sɛ̃k] – Give me five! A fun and friendly way to offer support or celebrate success.

Bravo, file-moi cinq! [bʁavo fil mwa sɛ̃k] – Well done, give me five!

How to Say Bless You in French: Popular Expressions

Another way to show kindness in French is by saying "bless you" after someone sneezes. The following phrases will help you express this simple act of politeness in French:

• À tes souhaits [a tɛ swɛ] – Bless you (informal). The most common phrase to say bless you in French, used among friends or family.

À tes souhaits, mon ami! [a tɛ swɛ mo.na.mi] – Bless you, my friend!

• À vos souhaits [a vo swɛ] – Bless you (formal). Used in more formal situations or with people you don’t know well.

À vos souhaits, Madame! [a vo swɛ madam] – Bless you, ma’am!

• Santé [sɑ̃te] – Health. A shorter, more casual way to wish for good health after a sneeze.

Santé! [sɑ̃te] – Health!

• À tes amours [a tɛ amuʁ] – To your loves (usually after the second sneeze). It is a playful expression used for a second sneeze.

À tes amours! [a tɛ amuʁ] – To your loves!

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Conclusion

Using well-wishes can express care and warmth, making someone feel special. Simple words like bonne chance [bɔn ʃɑ̃s] or bon courage [bɔ̃ kuʁaʒ] add a personal touch when someone faces challenges. It’s easy to choose between simple and fun informal phrases or formal words for different situations, so the words will always fit. Besides luck phrases, you can explore other useful words for greetings and farewells in French and enrich your chats even more.