French wishes in context: bon courage, bonne chance and the reply

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose a French wish for effort, luck, a meal or recovery. Practise short exchanges, match tu and vous, and decide when to say “you too”.

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In short

Practise a wish with a situation and a reply: Bon courage ! encourages effort; Bonne chance ! wishes for a good result; Bon appétit ! comes before a meal. Add Merci, à toi aussi ! when the same wish fits the other person.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two friends pack three plain cardboard boxes for a move in a French apartment, one offering a helpful hand, no labels.
The move prompts bon courage !. Illustration: Atelier

When do you say bon courage or bonne chance?

Cover the middle column and choose a wish
SituationYou sayFocus
A friend has a long report to finishBon courage pour ton rapport !The effort ahead
A friend is entering a prize drawBonne chance pour le tirage au sort !A hoped-for result
Two colleagues sit down to lunchBon appétit !Enjoying a meal
A friend says she is recovering from an illnessBon rétablissement !Getting better
You end a caring message to a friendPrends soin de toi !Taking care of oneself

Before an exam, both bon courage and bonne chance can fit. The first puts the spotlight on the work; the second on the result you hope for. Keep the noun’s gender: le courage, la chance, l’appétit (masculine), le rétablissement.

How do you reply to bon courage?

Encore trois cartons
  1. Lina

    Je dois encore préparer trois cartons avant le déménagement.

    I still have to pack three boxes before the move.

  2. Sam

    Bon courage ! Tu veux un coup de main ?

    Good luck with it! Would you like a hand?

  3. Lina

    Merci, c’est gentil. Oui, avec plaisir !

    Thanks, that’s kind. Yes, please!

Deux personnes à table
  1. Nora

    La soupe est prête. Bon appétit !

    The soup is ready. Enjoy your meal!

  2. Alex

    Merci, à toi aussi !

    Thanks, you too!

Un collègue passe devant la table
  1. Collègue

    Bon appétit ! Je pars à une réunion.

    Enjoy your meal! I’m off to a meeting.

  2. Vous

    Merci ! Bonne réunion !

    Thanks! Have a good meeting!

In the last scene, the colleague is heading to a meeting. Merci ! acknowledges the wish, and Bonne réunion ! picks up the new situation. Try swapping réunion for soirée: Bonne soirée ! is a useful closing.

Keep the same relationship throughout
RelationshipTake careYou too
One friend, using tuPrends soin de toi.À toi aussi !
Someone addressed as vous, or a groupPrenez soin de vous.À vous aussi !
A four-scene rehearsal

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
Your friend is waiting for a prize draw. Which wish focuses on a favourable result?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Bonne chance !. Bonne chance ! focuses on the result of the draw. The other wishes concern a meal and recovery.

Question 2No account needed
A friend says Bon appétit ! as you both start eating. Choose the reply that returns the wish.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Merci, à toi aussi !. À toi aussi ! returns the meal wish to the friend who is also eating.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the closing to someone you address as vous.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Prenez soin de vous.. The vous imperative is prenez, and the matching stressed pronoun is vous.

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