bien

/bjɛ̃/
adverbBeginner
general

Well, correctly, or properly (indicates good quality or manner)

Il parle bien français.

He speaks French well.

Tout va bien.

Everything is fine.

informal

Very, quite (intensifier)

C'est bien bon!

It's really good!

formal

Indeed, truly (emphasizes agreement or truth)

Bien sûr, je viendrai.

Of course, I will come.

Collocations

bien sûrof coursebien quealthoughbien mieuxmuch better

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

ça va bienphrase
things are going well
en bienphrase
for the better

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

'Bien' can mean 'well', 'very', or 'indeed' depending on the context. Pay attention to surrounding words and intonation.

Gold Rule

Adverb Placement

In French, 'bien' typically follows the verb or adjective it modifies, unlike English where adverbs often come before.

📖Word Origin

From Old French 'bien', from Latin 'bene', meaning 'well'.

📝Usage Notes

'Bien' is a versatile word that can function as an adverb, adjective, or even a noun in some contexts. Its meaning often depends on context and intonation.

Word Breakdown

bien
good, well
root
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais