6 Ways To Say Good Night In French

Do you want to learn how to say good night in French in less than ten minutes?

In English, when you want to  acknowledge that someone is going to bed, you say “goodnight.” It’s usually the only time you say it. Even though it’s late, you’d rarely say “goodnight” to someone if you’re just saying your goodbyes for the evening.

Meanwhile, in French, and depending on whether you’re greeting/bidding someone farewell, or how well you know them, you say “goodnight” in French in different ways (you also must consider how intimate the situation is).

Knowing how to say bonne nuit (the most literal translation of “goodnight”), however, is only half of the picture.

6 Ways To Say Good Night In French

So take a look at this guide for a few other ways to say goodnight in French.

1. The standard Good Night in French

In French, you say Bonne Nuit when you want to wish someone a good night.

Bonne Nuit translates to “good night” in English and the simplest, most basic evening farewell that anyone can say to anyone.

However, don’t mix it up with the phrase Bonne soirée (Good evening). While “good evening” is a rather formal term in English, it is very frequent in French. Bonne soirée is a phrase used to end a  (late) evening chat with someone who isn’t going to bed right away.

2. Dors bien – Sleep Well in French

Dors bien, which means “sleep well,” can be used in the imperative form with Vous (you): Dormez bien.

However, this expression usually indicates that you’re speaking to a group of people rather than addressing someone in a formal setting, as it tends to imply familiarity in most circumstances. 

It’s also typically used with close friends or family members, or with someone in a vulnerable condition (sick, in the hospital, a young child, etc.).

3. Fais de beaux rêves – Sweet Dreams in French

Fais de beaux rêves, which means “make beautiful dreams,” is the French equivalent of the English phrase “sweet dreams”/ “pleasant dreams.”

However, you can use it to say goodnight to someone in French, or you can combine it with bonne nuit.

It’s also nice how the French translation suggests that the one about to sleep can make their dreams. In some ways, it’s inspiring.

This is another expression that would be used with a close friend rather than in a formal setting. If used with Vous/you (Faites de beaux rêves), it is probably to address a group of people rather than in a formal setting.

4. Bonsoir — Good Evening, or Good Night in French

In French, the word Bonsoir is primarily used as a greeting. It means “good evening”.  

Bonsoir can also indicate “goodnight” in French. The usage varies by region. It’s more popular to say bonne soirée to express “goodnight” in French in major cities in France (Paris, Marseille, Lyon), where Bonsoir is used to bid someone farewell from a party or evening affair. 

Bonsoir is also a little more formal way of saying “good night” in French. However, it’s never a bad idea to sound a little formal in French.

5. Bonne Soirée — Have a good evening in French

When someone is leaving (or you are departing), you use bonne soirée to wish them goodnight in French.

You can say “goodbye,” “good night,” or “see you later” at any moment in the evening when it’s the last time you’ll see them till the next day.

6. A demain — See you tomorrow in French

In French, you can also say à demain to say goodnight.

It means “see you tomorrow.” This may appear to be a bit of a joke. However, it is a widely held belief.

After all, if someone goes to bed (in the same house), you will see them the next day.

Want to learn more French phrases? Check out our language guides below:

• Good Morning In French: Rules And Tips
• 10+ Ways to Say Congratulations in French
• 10+ Ways to Say Nice To Meet You In French
• 5 Ways To Say Cheers In French