Bon rétablissement or prenez soin de vous: messages that show you care

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 13 October 2026 · About the library

Wish someone a good recovery or simply say take care. Practise short French messages with bon rétablissement, prends soin de toi and prenez soin de vous.

A2
7 phrases
3 situations
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In short

Bon rétablissement ! means “Get well soon!” or “Wishing you a good recovery.” Prenez soin de vous means “Take care of yourself” or “Take care, everyone.” With one person you call tu, say Prends soin de toi.

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A friend bringing tea to someone resting beneath a blanket. — A small act of care accompanies bon rétablissement. Illustration: Atelier

Choose the wish before you write

Situation	French	English
A friend is recovering	Bon rétablissement !	Get well soon!
A fuller recovery wish with tu	Je te souhaite un bon rétablissement.	I wish you a good recovery.
A fuller recovery wish with vous	Je vous souhaite un bon rétablissement.	I wish you a good recovery.
A caring closing to one friend	Prends soin de toi.	Take care of yourself.
A caring closing with vous	Prenez soin de vous.	Take care of yourself / yourselves.

Bon rétablissement focuses on getting better after illness or injury. Prendre soin de soi has a wider use: you can send a warm take-care message to someone having a tiring week or leaving for a while. Both wishes fit together when your friend is recovering.

Three exchanges to say aloud

A friend is getting better

The person you are checking onJe vais mieux, mais je reste à la maison cette semaine.I’m feeling better, but I’m staying at home this week.

YouMerci pour les nouvelles. Bon rétablissement !Thanks for the update. Get well soon!

The person you are checking onMerci, c’est gentil.Thanks, that’s kind.

A colleague sends an update

This exchange keeps a polite form of address throughout.

The person you are checking onJe suis encore en arrêt maladie.I’m still on sick leave.

YouJe vous souhaite un bon rétablissement. Prenez soin de vous.I wish you a good recovery. Take care of yourself.

A warm closing after a busy week

The person you are checking onLa semaine a été longue. À lundi !It’s been a long week. See you Monday!

YouÀ lundi, et prends soin de toi !See you Monday, and take care!

Is it prends soin de toi or prend soin de toi?

The familiar imperative keeps the final -s: prends. Match it with toi. The vous form is prenez, followed by vous. In the recovery wish, rétablissement is masculine, so use bon. The spelling has one accented é and a double s.

Prenez soin de toi.Prends soin de toi.
For one friend addressed as tu, pair prends with toi.
Bonne rétablissement !Bon rétablissement !
Rétablissement is masculine: un bon rétablissement.