🙏🌙

How to Say ‘Thanks, have a good evening.’ in French

Merci, bonne soirée.

mair-see bun swah-RAY

[mair-see bun swah-RAY]

🇫🇷 In France: Use bonne soirée from late afternoon onward and bonne journée "have a good day" earlier on. Leaving a taxi or shop without a parting phrase like this can come across as curt.

Phrase Breakdown

Merci,

mair-see

Thank you,

A standard thank-you, pronounced 'mehr-SEE', with a soft French 'r' at the back of the throat.

Example

Merci, monsieur.

Thank you, sir.

Words in this phrase

Merci

[mair-see]

thank you

A polite expression of one's gratitude.

Example

Merci pour votre aide.

Thank you for your help.

bonne soirée.

bun swah-RAY

have a good evening.

A polite goodbye used in the evening. Say 'bun swah-RAY'. 'Bonne' is feminine because 'soirée' is feminine.

Example

Au revoir et bonne soirée !

Goodbye and have a good evening!

Words in this phrase

bonne

[bun]

good

Used to describe something pleasant or enjoyable.

Example

Dans « Une bonne soirée ? », « bonne » décrit la soirée positivement.

In “Une bonne soirée ?,” “bonne” describes the evening positively.

soirée

[swah-RAY]

evening

A common noun for an evening or a night out.

Example

Dans « Une bonne soirée ? », « soirée » parle du moment passé au bar.

In “Une bonne soirée ?,” “soirée” refers to the time spent at the bar.

Guides for French learners

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.Hello in French: Greetings, Good Evening and How to Answer "How Are You?"How to say hello in French, when to switch to good evening, how to ask how are you and what to answer, with tu vs vous and native audio.

Get the Full Learning Experience

This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.

Pronunciation Feedback

AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud

Spaced Repetition

Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice

Immersive Roleplaying

Practice real conversations with AI partners

Lessons for Your Situation

Request lessons tailored to your specific needs

Get Full Lesson

What Learners Are Saying

“Moved to Lyon for a culinary apprenticeship. The food and restaurant lessons were exactly what I needed — my French colleagues were genuinely impressed.”

Tom H., 38, Chef

“Studying in Paris and the academic French I learned in school was useless for daily life. This app filled the gap in weeks, not months.”

Nina W., 29, Graduate Student

“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”

Alex M., 42, Software Engineer