Meaning
A friendly wish for someone to have an enjoyable day.
Cultural Background
Saying 'Bonne journée' is almost mandatory when leaving a small shop. It is part of the 'social contract' of politeness. In Quebec, 'Bonjour' can sometimes be used as a goodbye, which is rare in France. The Swiss are known for being very precise with their greetings. You might hear 'Bon après-midi' more strictly used between 12 PM and 5 PM. Greetings are often more extended. You might wish a good day and then ask about the person's family.
The 'Departure' Rule
Always remember: 'Bonne journée' is for leaving. If you use it to say hello, people will think you are very confused!
Sunset Switch
Don't use this after 6 PM. Switch to 'Bonne soirée' to avoid sounding like you've lost track of time.
Meaning
A friendly wish for someone to have an enjoyable day.
The 'Departure' Rule
Always remember: 'Bonne journée' is for leaving. If you use it to say hello, people will think you are very confused!
Sunset Switch
Don't use this after 6 PM. Switch to 'Bonne soirée' to avoid sounding like you've lost track of time.
The Response
Always add 'à vous aussi' (to you too) to sound much more fluent and polite.
Test Yourself
You are leaving a shop at 10:00 AM. What do you say?
Au revoir, ___ !
Since it is 10:00 AM (daytime) and you are leaving, 'Bonne journée' is the correct choice.
Complete the phrase with the correct form of 'bon'.
___ journée !
'Journée' is a feminine noun, so the adjective must be feminine: 'Bonne'.
Match the phrase to the time of day.
1. 09:00 (Leaving) | 2. 20:00 (Leaving) | 3. 16:30 (Leaving)
Morning uses 'Bonne journée', late afternoon uses 'Bonne fin de journée', and night uses 'Bonne soirée'.
Complete the response.
Person A: 'Passez une bonne journée !' | Person B: 'Merci, ___ !'
'À vous aussi' means 'to you too', which is the standard polite response.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesAu revoir, ___ !
Since it is 10:00 AM (daytime) and you are leaving, 'Bonne journée' is the correct choice.
___ journée !
'Journée' is a feminine noun, so the adjective must be feminine: 'Bonne'.
1. 09:00 (Leaving) | 2. 20:00 (Leaving) | 3. 16:30 (Leaving)
Morning uses 'Bonne journée', late afternoon uses 'Bonne fin de journée', and night uses 'Bonne soirée'.
Person A: 'Passez une bonne journée !' | Person B: 'Merci, ___ !'
'À vous aussi' means 'to you too', which is the standard polite response.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsNo, it's better to say 'Bonne soirée'. 'Journée' implies daylight hours.
It is always 'Bonne journée' because 'journée' is feminine.
'Jour' is the unit of time (24 hours), while 'journée' emphasizes the duration and the events within the day.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, a shopkeeper, or a friend.
The most common reply is 'Merci, à vous aussi !' or 'Merci, toi aussi !' for friends.
Related Phrases
Bonne soirée
similarHave a good evening
Bon après-midi
specialized formHave a good afternoon
Bonne continuation
similarGood luck with what you're doing
Bon courage
similarGood luck / Hang in there
