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bonsoir
/bɔ̃.swaʁ/
good evening
Bonsoir, comment allez-vous ?
Good evening, how are you?
formal
A greeting used in the evening.
Bonsoir à tous !
Good evening, everyone!
Used from late afternoon until bedtime. More formal than 'salut' and less formal than 'bonne nuit'.
Pro Tip
When to use 'bonsoir'
Use 'bonsoir' when greeting someone after sunset until bedtime. It’s polite and works in both formal and informal settings, though 'salut' is more casual.
Word Origin
From 'bon' (good) + 'soir' (evening), derived from Old French 'soir' (evening), from Latin 'serus' (late).
Usage Notes
Commonly used when entering a place in the evening or greeting someone in the evening. Avoid using 'bonsoir' when saying goodbye in the evening—that would be 'bonne nuit'.
Word Breakdown
bon
good
rootsoir
evening
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais