French · Greetings & Essentials
"Good night" in French: bonne nuit
bonne nuit
Good night in French is bonne nuit. Say it at bedtime or when someone is going to sleep. Bonsoir is the evening hello or goodbye; bonne nuit is specifically for night.
Parents and kids
Bonne nuit, on éteint la lumière.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce bonne nuit
Say it
bun NWEE
/bɔn nɥi/
Bonne is bun with a clear n. Nuit is NWEE: ui like wee, silent t. Say bun-NWEE as two smooth beats.
"Good night" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| bonne nuit | good night Bedtime farewell. | Bedtime farewell. |
| bonne nuit à tous | good night everyone To a group heading to bed. | To a group heading to bed. |
| fais de beaux rêves | sweet dreams Warmer bedtime wish. | Warmer bedtime wish. |
| bonsoir | good evening Evening greeting, not bedtime. | Evening greeting, not bedtime. |
How to use bonne nuit in real life
- 1Parents and kids
Bonne nuit, on éteint la lumière.
Good night; we're turning off the light.
Classic bedtime line.
- 2Texting a partner
Je vais dormir. Bonne nuit !
I'm going to sleep. Good night!
Short and warm in messages.
- 3Flatmates
Bonne nuit à tous, à demain.
Good night everyone, see you tomorrow.
Bonne nuit à tous for several people.
Mistakes English speakers make with bonne nuit
Incorrect: Bonne nuit ! (entering a restaurant at 8 p.m.)
Correct: Bonsoir !
Bonne nuit is for sleep. When you arrive in the evening, say bonsoir.
Incorrect: Bon nuit.
Correct: Bonne nuit.
Nuit is feminine, so bonne agrees: bonne nuit.
Good to know
Tourists often say bonne nuit too early. If people are still out, use bonsoir. Save bonne nuit for actual bedtime, hotel corridors at midnight, or video calls ending because someone needs sleep.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ending a late video call
ChatPal
Il est tard chez toi. Bonne nuit !
It's late where you are. Good night!
You
Oui, bonne nuit. On se parle demain.
Yes, good night. We'll talk tomorrow.
ChatPal
Dors bien. Bonne nuit encore.
Sleep well. Good night again.
You
Toi aussi. À demain !
You too. See you tomorrow!
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 night" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Good night" in French
When do I say bonne nuit vs bonsoir?
Bonsoir for evening hellos and goodbyes while people are still up. Bonne nuit when someone is going to bed.
Why is it bonne not bon?
Nuit is feminine, so the adjective is bonne.
How do I say sweet dreams?
Fais de beaux rêves (tu) or faites de beaux rêves (vous).
How do you pronounce bonne nuit?
Bun NWEE.
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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