French · Greetings & Essentials
"Good luck!" in French: bonne chance
bonne chance
Good luck in French is bonne chance. Keep the whole phrase together. Before exams, shows, or interviews, bonne chance ! is the everyday wish.
Before an exam
Bonne chance pour ton partiel !Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonne chance
Say it
bun SHAHNS
/bɔn ʃɑ̃s/
Bonne: bun. Chance: shahns with nasal an. Together: bun SHAHNS.
"Good luck!" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonne chance | good luck Standard wish. | Standard wish. |
| bonne chance ! | good luck! Stand-alone. | Stand-alone. |
| je te souhaite bonne chance | I wish you good luck Fuller sentence. | Fuller sentence. |
| merde | break a leg (theater) Stage superstition—not literal. | Stage superstition—not literal. |
How to use bonne chance in real life
- 1Before an exam
Bonne chance pour ton partiel !
Good luck on your midterm!
Pour + the event.
- 2Job interview
Bonne chance, tu vas cartonner.
Good luck—you're going to crush it.
Cartonner = informal do great.
- 3Sports
On croise les doigts. Bonne chance !
Fingers crossed. Good luck!
Whole phrase.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonne chance
Incorrect: Bon chance.
Correct: Bonne chance.
Chance is feminine, so bonne.
Incorrect: Good luck !
Correct: Bonne chance !
Use the French phrase.
Good to know
Actors often say merde instead of bonne chance before a show—superstition, like "break a leg." Elsewhere, bonne chance is safe and kind. Reply with merci !
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Friend heading into an interview
ChatPal
Bonne chance pour l'entretien !
Good luck with the interview!
You
Merci. Dis-moi bonne chance encore une fois ?
Thanks. Say good luck one more time?
ChatPal
Bonne chance. Respire.
Good luck. Breathe.
You
OK. Je t'écris après.
OK. I'll text you after.
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 luck!" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good luck!" in French
Why bonne not bon?
Chance is feminine.
How do I reply?
Merci !
Theater alternative?
Merde (break a leg).
Pronunciation?
Bun SHAHNS.
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
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