You’re standing in a dimly lit hallway in a Paris arrondissement, or maybe you’re just finishing a Zoom call with a colleague in Lyon. The vibe is winding down. You want to leave, but you don't want to be the "clueless tourist" who uses the same phrase for every occasion. This is where most people trip up. They think there is just one way. Honestly, figuring out how do we say goodnight in french is less about memorizing a dictionary and more about reading the room.
If you say "Bonne nuit" at 7:00 PM while leaving a restaurant, people will look at you like you’ve just announced you’re going directly to bed in the middle of the sidewalk. It's weird. It’s a mistake nearly every English speaker makes because we translate "Goodnight" too literally.
The Bonne Nuit Trap
Let's get this out of the way immediately: Bonne nuit does not mean "Goodbye, have a nice evening."
It means "I am going to sleep now," or "You are going to sleep now." It is a heavy phrase. It implies pillows, blankets, and unconsciousness. If you say it to a shopkeeper as you walk out into the twilight, you’re basically telling them to go take a nap. They won't be offended, but they’ll definitely know you’re using Google Translate in your head.
True French fluency—the kind that gets you a nod of respect from a grumpy Parisian waiter—comes from knowing the distinction between the evening (la soirée) and the night (la nuit).
Why timing is everything
In France, the day is split. You have the morning, the afternoon, and then this sacred block of time called the soirée.
When you want to say goodbye to someone after the sun has started to dip, but the night is still young, you use Bonne soirée. This is your workhorse. It’s polite. It’s versatile. Whether you are leaving a bakery at 6:00 PM or a bar at 11:00 PM, if the person you are talking to is staying put to continue their evening, Bonne soirée is the winner.
It translates to "Have a good evening."
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The nuance of the "Bon"
Notice how French people lean into the nasal "on" sound. If you’re trying to sound local, don't over-pronounce the 'n'. Keep it light.
But wait. What if you’re the one leaving to go home and hit the hay?
That’s when you might hear Je vais me coucher. This isn't a greeting; it’s a declaration. "I’m going to bed." If you’re at a dinner party and the wine has been flowing for three hours, you don't just stand up and say "Goodnight." You announce your departure, wish everyone a bonne soirée, and then, as you're physically walking out the door or if you're talking to your partner, you drop the Bonne nuit.
How do we say goodnight in french to someone you love?
This is where things get cute. Or "mignon," as they say.
Standard classroom French won't help you much here. If you’re tucking in a child or whispering to a partner, Bonne nuit is just the baseline. You’ll want to add some flavor.
- Fais de beaux rêves: This is the classic "Sweet dreams." Literally, it means "Make some beautiful dreams." It’s used for kids constantly.
- Dors bien: "Sleep well." Simple. Effective. Very common between friends or family members.
- Passe une bonne nuit: A bit more formal, like "Have a good night's rest."
Interestingly, linguistics experts like those at the Alliance Française often point out that French is a language of precision. While English uses "Goodnight" as both a departure and a "sleep well" wish, French demands you choose a side. Are you staying in the evening, or are you entering the night?
Slang and the casual "Nighty-night"
If you’re hanging out with people in their 20s in Montpellier or Nantes, you might hear some shortened versions.
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"’Nuit" is a very lazy, very cool way to say it. It’s like saying "'Night" in English. You’ll only use this with people you actually know well. Don't say this to your boss unless you have a very unconventional workplace.
Then there’s the slightly more childish or affectionate Bonne nuitée. While technically a word for the duration of the night, some people use it playfully. However, it's a bit niche. You’re safer sticking to the basics until you’ve spent enough time in-country to hear the local slang variations.
Common mistakes that make locals cringe
I’ve seen people try to combine phrases. They say things like "Au revoir, bonne nuit" at 5:30 PM.
The sun is still up.
The pigeons are still active.
The café is still serving espresso.
It feels jarring. To avoid this, follow the "Dinner Rule." If people are still eating or drinking, it is a soirée. If people are brushing their teeth or already in pajamas, it is a nuit.
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Another one? Using Bonsoir as a goodbye.
Bonsoir is a hello. It’s what you say when you walk into the restaurant at 7:00 PM. If you use it when you're leaving, you're basically greeting the person all over again. It’s confusing. Always switch to the "Bonne" version for the exit.
- Arrival: Bonsoir!
- Departure (Still early): Bonne soirée!
- Departure (Bedtime): Bonne nuit!
The "Dodo" Phenomenon
If you have kids, or you’re around them, you’ll hear the word Dodo.
It’s baby talk for "sleep."
"Faire dodo" means to go to sleep.
"C’est l’heure du dodo" means it’s bedtime.
It comes from the word dormir. It’s one of those bits of "stealth French" that you won't find in a formal grammar book but you’ll hear in every single household from Calais to Cannes. Using it with adults is usually a joke, or perhaps a bit patronizing, so use it sparingly.
Practical Steps for your next French encounter
To really nail this, you need to practice the transition.
Next time you’re watching a French film or listening to a podcast like InnerFrench, pay attention to the exact moment the characters switch from Bonne soirée to Bonne nuit. It almost always correlates with the physical act of someone heading toward a bedroom or the host closing the front door for the final time.
Your Action Plan:
- Step 1: Audit your current habit. If you've been using "Bonne nuit" as a general evening goodbye, stop. Replace it with Bonne soirée for any situation where you are leaving a social setting.
- Step 2: Focus on the "nasal on." Practice saying "Bon" without letting your tongue touch the roof of your mouth for the 'n'.
- Step 3: Use Dors bien for close friends. It’s a small linguistic bridge that makes you sound much more like a local and much less like a tourist reading from a phrasebook.
- Step 4: Remember the 6:00 PM rule. In France, the "evening" starts early. Once the workday ends, "Bonjour" is dead. Long live "Bonsoir" and "Bonne soirée."
Mastering these small shifts in vocabulary does more than just help you say goodnight; it shows that you understand the rhythm of French life. It shows you know that the evening is a transition, a slow burn toward the night, and that those two things are definitely not the same.