

This expression implies that the person doesn’t really have control over the difficult situation they are about to face. In contrast to the multiple possible translations of “ bon courage,” “ bonne chance” almost always means “ good luck” in English. Hang in there, it’s almost the weekend. – See you later, my difficult class is starting.
Break a leg in french full#
You’ve got this!įinally, there is a shorter way to express this French expression, by simply saying “ courage.” This abbreviation can be used exactly the same way as the full phrase, and is not necessarily any more informal. This cultural shift in the use of bon courage persists even now that the pandemic has subsided: it remains common for French people to wish our cashiers bon courage as we take our groceries and walk away, wishing them continued courage and strength. While most citizens were obliged to quarantine themselves at home during months of confinement, service workers were suddenly put at high risk of catching the virus by interacting with so many people every day.

Godspeed!ĭuring the Covid-19 pandemic, “ bon courage” actually became the default way for the French people to thank the so-called frontline workers such as grocery store employees and nurses. In four weeks I’ll arrive in Santiago de Compostela! / Have a great trip. Dans quatre semaines j’arriverai à Compostelle ! / Bon voyage, et bon courage ! – It’s finally time to start hiking on this big trek. C’est enfin le moment du départ sur ce gros trek.– She’s still bothering me, I don’t know what to do anymore.
Break a leg in french plus#

It indicates that you believe this person can accomplish the task in question, but that their success is dependent on their effort. You’ll use bon courage when wishing someone luck as they embark on a task that will be hard work, but that they are fully capable of doing. It is just as suitable in formal and informal situations. It’s a relatively general phrase with a few different English equivalents, appropriate in many different situations and contexts. The phrase “ bon courage” in English literally translates to “good courage,” and is usually used in this context of wishing someone encouragement. In this post, we’ll explain exactly when to use bon courage vs bonne chance, while examining the important distinctions between each of them.

In other words, it comes down to whether they have some power over the situation, or whether they are reliant on luck itself. The main difference between these two phrases is the amount of influence the person has over what awaits them. When wishing someone good luck in French, you may have heard the phrase “ bon courage !” Other times, you’ve heard “ bonne chance !” While both of these phrases indeed mean “ good luck,” there are some important differences between them that you should know before sending someone off with your best wishes in French.
