bonsoir
/bɔ̃swaʁ/interjection★Beginner
formalinformal
Good evening (a formal or polite greeting used in the evening)
Bonsoir, comment allez-vous ?
Good evening, how are you?
Bonsoir tout le monde !
Good evening, everyone!
💡
Used as a greeting in the evening, similar to 'good evening' in English. Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Collocations
bonsoir tout le mondegood evening everyonebonsoir madame/monsieurgood evening madam/sir
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
bonsoiréephrase
good evening (less common, more formal)
💡Pro Tip
Formal vs. Informal Use
While 'bonsoir' can be used in both formal and informal settings, it is often more formal than 'salut' or 'coucou'.
⚡Gold Rule
Time of Day
Use 'bonsoir' in the evening, not during the day. For daytime greetings, use 'bonjour'.
📖Word Origin
From Old French 'bon' (good) + 'soir' (evening).
📝Usage Notes
In French, 'bonsoir' is used as a greeting in the evening, typically from late afternoon until night. It is more formal than 'salut' but less formal than 'bonjour' in certain contexts.
Word Breakdown
bon
good
rootsoir
evening
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais