French · Greetings & Essentials
"Good evening" in French: bonsoir
bonsoir
Good evening in French is bonsoir. It replaces bonjour in the evening for hellos and often for goodbyes too. Soft and standard with anyone.
Restaurant door
Bonsoir, une table pour deux.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonsoir
Say it
bohn-SWAHR
/bɔ̃.swaʁ/
Bonsoir is bohn-SWAHR. Nasal on in bon; soir like swahr with soft r.
"Good evening" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonsoir | good evening Hello and goodbye in the evening. | Hello and goodbye in the evening. |
| bonsoir madame / monsieur | good evening (polite) Shops, strangers, older people. | Shops, strangers, older people. |
| bonsoir à tous | good evening everyone Groups and meetings. | Groups and meetings. |
| bonne soirée | have a good evening Parting wish for the night ahead. | Parting wish for the night ahead. |
How to use bonsoir in real life
- 1Restaurant door
Bonsoir, une table pour deux.
Good evening, a table for two.
Arrival greeting.
- 2Neighbor in the hall
Bonsoir ! Vous rentrez tard.
Good evening! You're home late.
Everyday polite.
- 3Leaving a shop
Bonsoir, bonne soirée !
Good evening — have a nice evening!
Bonsoir can close the visit.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonsoir
Incorrect: Bonjour at 9 p.m. in a restaurant.
Correct: Bonsoir in the evening.
Switch to bonsoir after evening starts.
Incorrect: Good evening, monsieur.
Correct: Bonsoir, monsieur.
Use bonsoir, not English.
Good to know
Timing is flexible — many people flip to bonsoir around dusk or after work. Bonne soirée wishes someone a nice evening ahead; bonsoir is the greeting itself.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Evening reception desk
ChatPal
Bonsoir, j'ai une réservation au nom de Martin.
Good evening, I have a reservation under Martin.
You
Bonsoir. Oui, chambre 12.
Good evening. Yes, room 12.
ChatPal
Merci. Le petit-déjeuner est inclus ?
Thanks. Is breakfast included?
You
Oui. Bonne soirée.
Yes. Have a good evening.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Good evening" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good evening" in French
How do you say good evening in French?
Bonsoir.
Bonsoir or bonne soirée?
Bonsoir greets; bonne soirée wishes a nice evening.
When do I stop saying bonjour?
In the evening — switch to bonsoir.
How do you pronounce bonsoir?
Bohn-SWAHR.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
